INSPEC09252 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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 partial inspection of the Seneca II-W mine site. The weather was clear and hot. Skies were hazy due to forest fires in other western states. Ground conditions were very dry at the mine. Seneca Coal Company was hauling coal from the II-W mine during this inspection. Coal was being mined with the dragline in the upper A pit and with the auger in the lower A pit. Roads Roads were dry and well maintained. Ditches were clear. The A pit road will be relocated soon from the north side of the pit to the south side. Spoil to the north of the pit will be regraded. Construction will soon begin on Haul Road I. An initial path has been cleared where the road will be located. Topsoil salvaged from this road will go into Stockpiles J and UU. The access road to Pond 016 will also be constructed beginning later this week. The road embankments along Haul Road H that were hydroseeded last fall are stable. Vegetation success has been marginally successful; on the more northerly slopes and small swales, the vegetation cover is better. Hydrologic Balance Ponds 005 and 006 were observed. There was no discharge out of either pond. Water levels in Pond 006 are low enough that SCC will be installing the trash rack soon. The locations for Pond 016 and 017 were observed. Pond 016 will be located in a wet depression where beaver ponds are located. The beaver dams were breached in an effort to dry the area out, but the beavers have been rebuilding. A low pressure dozer will be brought in for the pond construction. After initial brush clearing and topsoil salvaging, SCC will survey the pond site. The location of Pond 017 is fairly dry. Construction of this pond is not planned until next year at the earliest. Topsoil No topsoil operations were occurring during this inspection, but a number of projects are in the works. Topsoil has been salvaged in the south extension area and stockpiled in Topsoil stockpile W. Additional topsoil from the south extension area will be direct hauled to the regraded spoils north of the pit and stockpiled as necessary. As stated previously, topsoil will be salvaged from Haul Road I, the access road to Pond 016 and from the Pond 016 location.