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February 25, 2025 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine HR1 <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 6 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> Page 3 of 10 <br /> <br />BACKFILL and GRADING – Rule 4.14 Contemporaneous Reclamation 4.14.1; Approximate <br />Original Contour 4.14.2; Highwall Elimination 4.14.1(2)(f); Steep Slopes 4.14.2, 4.27; Handling of <br />Acid and Toxic Materials 4.14.3; Stabilization of Rills and Gullies 4.14.6: <br />EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE – Rule 4.09 <br />Placement; Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization: <br />South Taylor <br />Active backfill operations were not observed during the inspection in the South Taylor Pit but work in <br />this area had progressed since the Division’s last inspection. Spoil material was being hauled from the <br />eastern side of the South Taylor Pit and was being deposited towards the southeast corner of the South <br />Taylor pit (Photo 9). A highwall of product remains to the west for possible future use. <br /> <br />Collom <br />Active backfill operations in the Collom Pit were not observed during the inspection. However, since the <br />Division’s last inspection, load and haul equipment was noted to have moved to a new area and <br />progressed in spoil replacement (Photo 2). Spoil material was being hauled from the northwestern side of <br />the Collom temporary spoil pile and was being deposited towards the eastern cut of the Collom pit (Photo <br />7). <br /> <br />Solar Project Disturbance <br />MR-257 was approved by the Division in August 2024 and documented ground disturbance activities that <br />occurred within Colowyo's permit boundary from an adjacent solar construction project. The ground <br />disturbance was not associated with Colowyo and was minimal. The solar construction project was set to <br />continue through this area of Colowyo’s permit boundary with the caveat that the area will be reclaimed <br />following the conclusion of disturbance. The Division revisited this area during the inspection and found <br />grading work to be completed, and the disturbance trench completely backfilled and graded (Photos 10 <br />and 11). <br /> <br />HYDROLOGICBALANCE - Rule 4.05; Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation <br />Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits <br />4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage – Acid and <br />Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> <br />East Pit Facilities Area <br />As part of the facilities check described in the ‘Support Faculties’ section of this inspection, all facility <br />ponds in this area were observed during this inspection. This includes the Work Area Pond, Evaporation <br />Ponds 1 & 2, Aeration Pond, Sediment Sump, and Wash Bay Pond. All ponds appeared to be stable with <br />no signs of erosion. All ponds contained at least some amount of water. An example of these ponds is <br />pictured in Photo 8. <br /> <br />Collom Pit <br />Several Ponds in the Collom Pit area which were inaccessible at the Division’s last inspection were able <br />to be inspected this month. This includes Section 26 Pond (Photo 6) and Sidehill Pond (Photo 4). All <br />ponds were holding water, mostly frozen, snow covered, stable, and free of issues. Section 36 Pond, <br />Middle Pond and Section 25 Pond were inaccessible at the time of inspection due to ongoing cable laying <br />operations and regrading work being completed on the Collom spoil pile. <br /> <br />The following ditches in the Collom Pit area were inspected this month: D-1, D-2, and D-4 (Photos 5 and <br />6, respectively). All channels appeared to be stable with no signs of erosion or undercutting.