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February 28, 2025 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine LDS <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 6 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Page 2 of 8 <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection <br />N - Availability of Records <br />N - Backfill & Grading <br />R - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Explosives <br />N - Fish & Wildlife <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Other <br />N - Processing Waste <br />R - Roads <br />N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - Slides and Other Damage <br />R - Support Facilities On-site <br />Y - Signs and Markers <br />N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This was a partial inspection by Leigh Simmons of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(Division). The weather was clear and warm, but with snow on the ground in shady spots. The status of the Elk <br />Creek Mine is “active” however no coal is being mined and the only activity since the last inspection was site <br />maintenance. <br />EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE – Rule 4.09 <br />Placement; Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization: <br />The West Valley Fill and II West Valley Fill were both stable. The fills were vegetated, but the <br />vegetation was mostly still dormant. The armored channels were in good condition, with the large rocks and <br />boulders increasingly cemented in place and stabilized by vegetation. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 <br />Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; <br />Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; <br />Drainage – Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />Ponds C and E were both dry. The ponds were very well-vegetated, and there was no sign of any <br />accumulated sediment in either of the ponds. <br />Despite the fine weather, there was not yet any significant flow in Elk Creek. <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br />Work was in progress to construct a methane destruction facility in Hubbard Creek. <br />Work had not begun to construct a cell phone tower in the permit area, close the entrance to the water tank road. If <br />this goes ahead a Minor Revision will be needed to update the Permit Application Packet with a description of the <br />tower. <br />ROADS – Rule 4.03 <br />Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3), Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4), Surfacing and Maintenance4.03.1(5) and