INSPEC09988

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 9/25/2003
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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 portions of the affected areas at Seneca II-W. The primary
focus of the inspection was to investigate and document the condition of the native
drainage channel reach between the "D" Pit regraded areas and the roadside stock tank
impoundment located immediately up-gradient from the Road G culvert above Pond 005.
This channel system conveys disturbed runoff from the "D" Pit area, but is otherwise
undisturbed by mining activities. For over a decade, peak flows through this segment of
channel were minimized due to the capture of runoff by mine pits and/or diversion of flow
via road ditches. The mine pits were backfilled and graded in 2002, and road ditch
diversions were eliminated after the 2003 spring runoff. A somewhat similar situation at
the nearby Yoast Mine also operated by Seneca Coal Company apparently resulted in
significant erosion along a native channel reach in 2003. The Division concluded that it
would be prudent to document the existing condition of the channel, and we have
requested the operator to submit a plan to minimize the potential for excessive erosion of
the channel reach that might occur during the early years of reclamation, before the
reclaimed watershed is fully stabilized by vegetation.
The inspection was conducted in the accompaniment of Bob Shevling of Seneca Coal
Company, and began at approximately gam near the lower end of the channel segment of
concern. Weather was clear and mild. In addition to the channel assessment, various areas
within the "D" Pit and "A" Pit reclamation areas were also inspected.
"D" Pit Native Drainage Channel Assessment
The subject channel segment runs for several hundred yards generally east to west between
the lower end of the "D" Pit regraded spoils at the upper end and the stock pond just above
the Road G culvert at the lower end. There is a fork at the upper end of the segment. The
open channel spillway of a stock tank impoundment located within the lower portion of the
graded spoils drains to the.north fork of the native channel. The north fork conveys runoff
from the major portion of the reclaimed watershed for a short distance down to the junction
with the south fork, forming the main channel.
The channel currently appears to be relatively stable, but it runs along the toe of a hillslope
to the north that has been subject to landslides in the past, and renewed downcutting along
the channel would likely trigger additional sliding. There are a number of nickpoints along
the channel with head cutting erosion, most of which looks fairly old, but some evidence of
additional cutting in the last few years.
I took 30 digital photos to document the condition of the channel and adjacent hillslopes.
Photo No. 757 was taken at the lower end of the channel segment just upstream from the
roadside stock pond. At this location, a road outlet ditch that had eroded and was
subsequently backfilled last spring, emptied into the channel. Photos 752 through 761 are
progressively upstream from the lower end of the segment, up to the point along the lower
channel segment where the channel is crossed by a four strand barbed wire fence. There is
a notable nickpoint approximately 100 yards up the channel from the 751photo point. At
this location there is a steep sided gully segment up to 15 feet deep, approximately 20 feet