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.~ <br /> <br />III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during <br />the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the <br />facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This partial inspection of the King Coal Mine was conducted by Wally Erickson from the <br />DMG field office in Durango, 484 Turner Drive, Building F, Suite 101, Durango, CO <br />81301, phone (970) 247-5193. Mr. Tom Bird was underground during the inspection <br />and was not available. Operation was active during the time of this inspection. <br />Mine identification sign and safety signs were posted at the mine entrance. Public <br />access is controlled by gate and fence, gate was open. Mine entrance road, haul road <br />and access roads were cleared of snow and appeared well maintained. Highway haul <br />trucks were observed being loaded at the coal stockpile. Front end loader was observed <br />recycling oversized material back through processing circuits. <br />Snow cover had melted from the adjacent hay field. Hay field was wet, water depth <br />appeared to be 3" - 6" deep. Problem of coal debris escaping into hay field was <br />previously identified in DMG inspection reports from 10/24/96, 9/11/96, 8/8/96 and <br />7/18/96. Coal debris had been removed from hay field, vegetative cover for hay field <br />appeared restored. Residual amount of coal fines remain within the hay field. <br />Upland diversion ditches and culverts appeared clear and well maintained. Sediment <br />sumps within the upland diversion ditch appeared to have been recently cleaned. <br />Sediment sump within upland diversion ditch appeared approximately 10' deep. Debris <br />screens, constructed from roof bolts, had been installed within upland diversion ditch. <br />Debris screens were clear of debris. <br />Surface of the refuse pile was graded to convey drainage from pile to sediment <br />containment ditch. Evidence of impounded water on refuse pile was not located. <br />Surface and side slopes of refuse pile appeared stable. Due to the steep slope <br />conditions, upland drainage for the small watershed immediately upslope of the refuse <br />pile is combined with disturbed area drainage and routed to the sediment ponds for <br />treatment. Upland drainage and refuse pile drainage is conveyed under the refuse pile <br />access road through a 6" pipe culvert. Inlet of 6" pipe culvert was damaged and <br />partially buried. Inlet of 6" culvert needs repair or replacement. Outlet of 6" culvert <br />was clear of debris and was discharging approximately -1 gpm. <br />Both sediment ponds were holding water, embankments were well vegetated and <br />appeared stable. Spillways were clear of sediment and debris, no discharge noted. <br />Yard drainage is conveyed to the smaller, north pond, via a swale cut in the mine <br />entrance road. All affected area drainage appeared to report to one of the two sediment <br />ponds for treatment. <br />Spill containment berm surrounding the fuel tank, located adjacent to the office trailer, <br />has been reduced in size and needs repair to ensure adequate capacity of containment <br />area. Fuel tank appeared intact, no evidence of rupture or escaped fluids were <br />observed. <br />