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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the Inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. This was a complete inspection of the Sanborn Creek Mine on January 30 and 31, 2001. Mark Milner accompanied me on the inspection. The skies were overcast and the temperatures were cold. Ground conditions were muddy in heavy traffic areas and snow covered in undisturbed areas. During the past several weeks, OMI has been drilling a degasification well, CBM-1, to reduce methane levels in the Sanborn Creek mine. The well was drilled diagonally about 2300 feet into Panel l14. It has been completed and is effectively working to reduce the methane gas levels. Mining and production started up last week and coal was being conveyed from the mine during this inspection. OMI has started construction on the Elk Creek Mine facilities, however progress has been delayed while OMI drilled degasification well CBM-1. Topsoil was salvaged from all disturbed areas and is stockpiled in the approved location east of the upper bench. OMI constructed a "holding pond" above the disturbance and diverted Elk Creek into a corrugated pipe to flow around the disturbance during installation of the Elk Creek culvert and fill construction. There is very little flow at this time. The Elk Creek culvert has been installed in [he upper fill area and installation is approximately two thirds complete in the lower fill area. During this inspection most of the activity was dedicated to culvert installation in the lower fill area. One dozer was working on the portal bench area. The surface parts of the two shafts have been installed on the upper fill area. The depth of each shaft is approximately 40 feet. A raise bore will be used to complete the shafts. Silt fences have been installed below disturbance areas to control sediment. OMI is still relocating the topsoil stockpile where Pond D will be installed. Records Records were checked in the mine office on Tuesday, January 30. Several of the records need to be updated since TR-32 was approved and the bond has been replaced. The records to be updated are specifically noted on the attached checklist. Roads Roads were muddy in the yard area and in Elk Creek. Less traveled roads were snow packed. The access road to well CBM-1 was snow packed Wednesday morning. This was an existing jeep trail up Coal Gulch and into Hawk's Nest Creek drainage area. OMI installed silt fence where there could be the potential for road runoff to enter Coal Gulch. Hydrologic Balance Water was being pumped from the Sanborn Creek mine into the mine water settling pond. Water was discharging from the pond at approximately 100 gpm during the inspection. Sediment ponds A, B, C, and the Substation pond had little or no water in them. The East Yard pond was approximately half full; it was cleaned earlier this week according to Mr. Milner.