INSPEC04261

• Permit No: C1981044
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: OSM Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 11/18/2004
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

BTU Empire, Eaale 5 Mine, pQ. 4
Mrs. Binns and Mr. Barker walked the canyon area as well from the above location and
observed a land slump at N 40 26 26.4 W 107 39 46.8 that Mr. Barker had discussed
with us earlier; and also two presumed small surface subsidence features that have been
regraded and repaired.
Sandstone outcrop with very noticeable cracking observed at N 40 26 005 W 107 39 922
at 6,486 ft., above the ls` ]eft area. This area is 30 to 50 feet from vertical cliff faces of
these same sandstone outcrops. Naturally occurring sandstone joints, oriented pazallel to
the obvious crack, exist in this same sandstone formation. This sandstone crack is 9 to
12 feet deep in spots, 4 to 6 inches wide, running 30 to 50 ft. minimum, and characteristic
of surface subsidence features near outcropping sandstone units.
Another feature, a sinkhole adjacent to the roadway at N 40 26 092 W 107 39 905 at
6,545 ft., was found along a crack line that includes a hole in the roadway reportedly
filled with rocks by Mr. Bazker last year. This crack extends uphill west from the
sinkhole for up to 100 ft. minimum. This crack is very obvious, and just uphill and almost
parallel to this 15` crack, is another very obvious sandstone crack with vertical fracturing
typical of sandstone unit subsidence, showing down through Che sandstone outcrop at
N 40 26 104 W 107 39 924 at 6,570 ft. These surface (cracked sandstone outcrop units)
features are almost certainly subsidence related in this area.
Next stop was a BLM survey marker at N 40 26 068 W 107 40 081 at 6,675 ft. installed
this year by Dave Ginther, BLM. This is between Sec 36 and Sec. 25.
Next stop was at N 40 26 039 W 107 40 411 at 6,975 ft. where we split into 2 groups to
again walk affected areas above underground mine workings. We located ourselves on
maps, and looked for subsidence features. No subsidence features noted in this area by
either group.
Next stop was at the cell phone tower at N 40 25 861 W 107 40 536 where we walked
affected areas, but did not observe any subsidence features. Noted another BLM survey
marker at N 40 25 371 W 107 40 709 at 6,865 ft., with no subsidence noted in this area.
Next stop at approximately the western extent of coal extraction at N 40 25 587
W 107 40 709 at 6,880 ft., where we found no evidence of surface subsidence features.
The last stop of the inspection was at a possible drill pad location, adjacent to the road at
N 40 26 080 W 107 40 209 at 6,937 ft. This area is vegetated and stable. This concluded
the inspection.
Please address any questions concerning this inspection report to Henry Austin,
Senior Reclamation Specialist, at [e-mail] or to [phone] x1466.