INSPEC10353

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 7/20/2004
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

111. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
West Elk C-80-007
Pg 1 /3 20 July 2004
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 and a bond compliance inspection of the West Elk Mine
conducted by Jim Stark of CDMG. Mike Berzonick and Kelly O'Rourke of Mountain
Coal accompanied me on most of the inspection. The inspection was started on 20
July 2004 and completed the following evening (21 July 2004). The mine was actively
producing and loading coal and hauling refuse to the refuse pile expansion. The
weather varied throughout the days from hot and sunny to warm and rainy and the
ground was either dry or wet, depending on the weather of the moment. There was
a fairly large rain the night of 20 July 2004 (beginning at approximately 17:30 and
lasting approximately 45 minutes).
Signs and Markers: All of the necessary signs (including the mine ID sign, topsoil signs,
disturbance boundary signs, etc.) were in place at both the mine site and the
loadout across Highway 133 and contained all of the necessary information.
Roads: -The main haul/access road is a paved road. The road was stable and in
good condition.
-The Sylvester Gulch haul road is a gravel road. The road was well maintained and
stable at the time of the inspection. There were no rutting or erosional problems
observed on the road.
-The LRP light use road and the stack tubes light use road were well maintained and
stable at the time of the inspection. There were no rutting or erosional problems
observed on these roads.
-All of the roads behind the facility area (the MSB access road, the upper mine
access road and the light use roads around the water tank and portal area) were
well maintained and in good condition. There were no rutting or erosional problems
observed on these roads.
Hydrologic Balance: -The polishing pond is a lined pond. it contained water but was
not discharging. The pond embankment was stable and well vegetated at the time
of the inspection. No erosional features were noted on the embankment.
- Pond MB-1 is a lined, two-celled pond. It contained water but was not discharging
at the time of the inspection. The emergency spillway is a concrete and riprap open
channel and appeared to be in good condition. The pond embankment was stable
and well vegetated at the time of the inspection. No erosional features were noted
on the embankment.
-The freshwater pond is a lined pond that holds water for the water treatment facility.
The pond embankment was stable and well vegetated at the time of the inspection.
No erosional features were noted on the embankment.
-The RPE pond is a lined, two-celled pond. The east cell contained a small amount
of water at the time of the inspection but was not discharging. The west cell was dry.
The pond embankment was stable and well vegetated at the time of the inspection.