INSPEC12859

• Permit No: C1981035
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 1/2/1997
• Doc Name: DMG COAL INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 12/18/1996
• 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 partial inspection of the King Coal Mine was conducted by Wally Erickson from the
DMG field office in Durango, 484 Turner Drive, Building F, Suite 101, Durango, CO
81301, phone [phone]. Mr. Tom Bird accompanied the DMG inspector
throughout the inspection. Operation was active during the time of this inspection.
Mine identification sign and safety signs were posted at the mine entrance. Public
access is controlled by gate and fence, gate was open. Mine entrance road, haul road
and access roads were cleared of snow and appeared well maintained. Highway haul
trucks were observed being loaded at the loading/scale house. Front end loader was
observed recycling oversized. material back through processing circuits.
Snow cover obscured adjacent hay fields, prohibiting inspector from verifying progress
of clean-up of escaped coal and re-establishment of vegetative cover. Problem of
escaped coal previously identified in DMG inspection reports from 10/24/96, 9/11/96,
8/8/96 and 7/18/96.
Upland diversion ditches and culverts appeared clear and well maintained. Sediment
sumps within the upland diversion ditch appeared to have been recently cleaned.
Sediment sumps, within the upland diversion, also serve as energy dissipating
structures.
Surface of the refuse pile was graded appropriately to convey drainage from pile to
sediment containment ditches. Evidence of impounded water on refuse pile was not
located. Surface and side slopes of refuse pile appeared stable. Due to the steep slope
conditions, upland drainage for the small watershed immediately upslope of the refuse
pile is combined with disturbed area drainage and routed to the sediment ponds for
treatment. Upland drainage and refuse pile drainage is conveyed under the refuse pile
access road through a small culvert. Size and maintenance status of culvert could not
be inspected due to drift snow.
Both sediment ponds were holding water, depth of frozen water was estimated at 18".
Pond embankments appeared stable, spillways were clear and well maintained.
Containment berm surrounding fuel storage area appeared intact and well maintained.