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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments <br />also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts of evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />BACKFILL & GRADING: Overburden and inter-burden was being hauled from the <br />West Pit and backfilled into the East Pit. No grading was being accomplished. <br />EXPLOSIVES: Routine drilling and blasting activities were underway. A shot was <br />exploded just after 4 pm. Blast records were on file. See the Availability of Records <br />checklist. <br />TOPSOIL: The topsoil pile south of the southeast corner of the East Pit needs to be <br />shaped, and this resource protected from wind and water erosion. Other topsoil <br />storage piles were in good shape and adequately protected with vegetation. <br />Topsoil identification signs were in place. <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: Operations were in compliance. Overburden <br />and interburden was being taken from the West Pit by shovel-truck operations and <br />being placed in the East Pit. Dragline backcasting, by three draglines, was underway <br />in the West Pit. Coal was being taken from the West Pit by drill and blast, front-end <br />loader, and truck haul. Coal was being taken by highwall mining in the East Pit, front- <br />end loader, and truck haul. This coal was being hauled to the primary crusher (or the <br />primary crusher coal stock pile) and then to the Gossard Rail Loadout. There was <br />coal in every coal storage area. High-wall mining has progressed approximately 3/5 <br />the way (west to east) across the East Pit in the E Seam. The floor of the East Pit was <br />being raised as highwall entrances were sealed and covered. There was no activity <br />in the Section 16 Pit. <br />FISH & WILDLIFE: Deer, and for the first time, antelope (4 each), were observed on the <br />East Pit reclamation. A number of ducks were on the ponds, and a number of small <br />birds were about the site, including redwing blackbirds and killdeer near the ponds. <br />A lizard was seen, as was a rattle snake (in the riprap of the Section 16 pond <br />spillway). <br />REVEGETATION: Revegetated areas looked very good (in some part to the recent <br />moisture). Some thistle was noted on the inslopes and flume area of the Gulch A <br />Pond, and some whitetop on the Work Area Pond embankment. Some houdstongue <br />was noted just inside the permit boundary up Taylor Creek. <br />EXCESS SPOIL & DEVELOPMENT WASTE: No work had been accomplished on the West <br />Pit Excess Spoil Fill. <br />SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF MINING: As noted above, highwall mining is underway in <br />the East Pit. <br />C-81-0t9. Paae Y of SPaaes. Date Z 7"~ <</ .Initials ^4/ QI 1~ <br />