Laserfiche WebLink
Mountain Coal Company <br />P.O. Box 591 <br />Somerset, CO 81434 <br />West Elk Mine <br />October 4,5 & 6, 1994 <br />Partial inspection/Special focus <br />Inspection Participants: <br />Christine Johnston, CO/DMG <br />Kathy Welt, Mountain Coal Co. (MCC) <br />Henry Barbe, MCC <br />Henry Austin, OSM/AFO <br />I accompanied the above inspection participants on a partial/special focus <br />inspection of the West Elk Mine on the dates noted. Mr. Barbe accompanied <br />Ms. Johnston, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG-, and I during <br />field inspection activities. Ms. Welt was available to discuss permitting issues <br />and answer general questions. Weather conditions were generally partly cloudy <br />with intermittent light rains and ground conditions varied from moist to <br />saturated on different portions of the operation. <br />The two special focus areas which were discussed with inspection participants <br />at the beginning of the inspection included a review of the approved permit <br />application package (PAP) with respect to establishing the approximate original <br />contour (AOC) during the reclamation process, as required in the approved <br />Colorado Regulatory Program ; and a review of the availability of records at or <br />near the minesite. <br />We began the inspection on 10/4/94 with a full day of field observations on the <br />mine affected areas. The following are stops/observations made during the <br />inspection: the Lone Pine Gulch Ventilation Fan project area was the first area <br />inspected. This new fan installation was approved by Technical Revision (TR1 <br />No. 69 on 8/12/94 and Minor Revision (MR) No. 134 on 9/16/94. The site is <br />currently under construction and includes a power substation pad at the light <br />use road entrance. The road is an existing road which has been upgraded in <br />accordance with plan approval and is permitted. A road fill area and excavation <br />of the fan portal face-up were occuring simultaneously during the inspection. <br />This area and the associated topsoil stockpile were inspected and are currently <br />stable. Appropriate small area exemption (SAE) demonstrations are contained in <br />PAP section 2.05-32, exhibit 66, and maps 54 & 54a. The outslopes of all <br />disturbance areas were hydroseeded including the access road. <br />