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Narrative Statement for the 1997 Colorado Special Focus Review <br />of <br />Coal Waste Banks at the New Elk Mine <br />Background <br />OSM and DMG agreed to conduct a special focus review of coal waste banks at the <br />New Elk Mine under the 1997 attachment to the performance agreement. This special <br />focus inGuded a records review at DMG's Denver office and at the mine office and a <br />review of the two refuse piles' conditions in the field. Kent Gorham represented DMG <br />and conducted a partial inspection on June 10, 1997, during which Glen Golden and I <br />represented OSM. Mr. Ron Thompson represented Basin Resources. According to <br />DMG, transfer of the permit from Basin Resources to Picketwire Processing was <br />approved though the transition is not yet complete. <br />Coal removal from the New Elk Mine is complete and the mine has been under <br />approved temporary cessation of operations since March 1996. The waste banks were <br />most recently used for disposal of material from the Golden Eagle Mine. Plans for the <br />proposed Lorencito Mine inGude their possible continued use for disposal of that mine's <br />coal waste. One of the waste banks at the New Elk Mine is the mine waste <br />development pile (MWDP). The second waste bank is the refuse disposal area (RDA). <br />Design Information for both is found in Exhibit 30 of the mine plan; section 2.05 of the <br />plan also contains design information for the RDA. <br />The Team (DMG and OSM) previously decided how it would determine if provisions in <br />DMG's rules and the mine's permit for coal mine waste bank water control, construction, <br />and reGamation were complied with. To do so, the Team decided it would verify the <br />following: That the operator inspected the waste banks as required; the operator <br />constructed and maintained water control measures as required; and that the operator <br />followed construction requirements addressing lifts, compaction, cover, and other <br />features as found in DMG's rules. Review of water controls emphasized comparing flow <br />patterns to the approved plan and determining rf problems, such as excessive erosion, <br />occurred and if they had the potential of creating off-site impacts. The team agreed that <br />erosion of reclaimed portions of a waste pile would be considered excessive when <br />erosional features prohibit successful reGamation, as provided in section 4.16.6. <br />Waste bank construction was evaluated by spot-checking construction details to <br />determine compliance with approved designs. The mine plan characterizes the RDA as <br />ahead-of-hollow fill; the MWDP is not covered by a special category of DMG's coal <br />waste bank regulations. <br />OSM conducted a complete inspection of the New Elk Mine most recently on August 10. <br />1994. OSM conGuded that aspects of coal refuse piles inGuding surtace stabilization, <br />placement, inspections and certifications, and impounding structures were in <br />compliance. Drainage control was shown as being in "noncompliance identified <br />elsewhere.' That notation pertained to a notice of violation issued by DMG for failure to <br />1997 New Elk Special Focus <br />