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We identified 13 approved SAE's mine wide with the lamest and probably most significant ones recently constructed this past year in the new Elk Creek Mine development areas. These SAE's are designed and accompanied by appropriate SEDCAD runoff demonstrations in Section 9 of PR-4, "Revised and New SAE's and Alternative Sediment Controls ASC's ". We inspected all these areas in Elk Creak and it appears they have been constructed according to design, and are currently functioning as designed. The topsoil stockpile is the largest SAE with minor grading/ seeding work still to'be done this season on undisturbed area runoff ditches and the former haulroad areas to the pile. Most of the 3 separate pad outslopes and major downdrains from SAE's are heavily rock armored and we anticipated will be very durable over time. The pad areas themselves are bermed and designed to diain to the sediment pond at the lower end of the coal conveyor. Given the hectic construction schedule all working areas were for the most part neatly organized, clean, and well maintained. No problems were identified in the Elk Creek A4ine development area. SAE's at the main mine facility were inspected_ According to the pei7nittee no SAE's remain at the mine entrance with the completion of pond A. We discussed the North side of the access road particularly where the coal conveyor crosses to the rail loadout. There is coal along the road inslope area, although it appears the permittee is doing a good job of keeping it removed/maintained. There are altemate sediment control weir/straw bale structures in the road ditch also doing a reasonable job of sediment control. There were no obvious offsite sediment depositions or damage noted here. Mr. Burnell and the permittee should decide whether this area should be classified as an SAE, and monitor the altemate sediment control structures and coal removal/maintenance for effectiveness. Other SAE's inspected included: D-seam portal storage area, Sanborn Creek conveyor and portal areas, Hubbard and Bear Creek reclaimed facilities (all the reclaimed areas are stable), and four de-gas drill pads which are also recent developments. Al] areas inspected were currently stable. DugouUsump coal sediment material removed and temporarily stored at the conveyor needs to be permanently removed as soon as it is dry. Discussions on all li SAE's identified are found somewhere in PR-4. Some of these SAE's may be affected next year as the Sanborn Creek Mine and conveyor are reclaimed. The permittee should address updated designs/demonstrations for SAE's that will be redisturbed, and for other areas as reclamation progresses. Light use roads that were used for fire sunnression at the Sandorn Creek Mine should be reclaimed as soon as possible unless there are specific permitted activities associated with them. The permittee is doing maintenance on BLM light use roads which support public access above the mine and are being used as access for de-gas activity. This concluded the inspection. There were no offsite impacts associated with the 5AE's inspected. The permittee should be commended for the well-organized major construction effort at the new Elk Creek Mine. There were no offsite impacts associated with this development and it appears very well constructed and maintained. Please address an }' questions concerning this inspection report to Henry Austin at haustin@osrme.sov or to (303) 844-1400 x1466.