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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a partial inspection of the Yoast Mine conducted on August 28 and August 29, 2001 by <br />Mike Boulay of the DMG. Chuck McCulloh of Seneca Coal Company was present during the <br />entire inspection. Weather conditions were sunny and clear. Ground conditions were dry <br />throughout the majority of the site. Coal was being hauled from the mine site and the dragline <br />was operating in the Yoast South Area. <br />HydroloQic Balance <br />Sedimentation Ponds 010, 011, and 012 were full at the time of the inspection. Pond 012 was the <br />only pond discharging. Construction of Pond 014 is proceeding. Representatives from <br />Montgomery Watson Harza were on site to inspect the construction of the pond. At Pond 012 <br />work is still underway to repair the slide damage that occurred below the Haul Road D <br />embankment. Technical Revision No. 18 submitted for the remedial repair plan and slope <br />stability analysis for the landslide area is pending approval by the DMG. <br />Significant additional erosion has occurred at the head of Pond 011 due to recent heavy runoff. <br />Please take appropriate measures to control the erosion and repair the gully that has formed at the <br />inlet to the pond. Placement of additional riprap will be required to maintain the stability of the <br />inlet. <br />Explosives <br />Blasting records for overburden shots recently conducted in the Yoast South Area were reviewed <br />during this inspection. Three records for blasts shot on July 24, 2001, August 8, 2001, and <br />August 10, 2001 were reviewed. Utilizing the scaled-distance equation, the maximum allowable <br />weight of explosives per 8-millisecond period was determined to be 1,458 pounds for the July <br />24, 2001 overburden shot. However, the weight of explosives actually detonated per 8- <br />millisecond period was shown to be 1,940 pounds on the blasting record. <br />As stated in Rule 4.08.6(2), the use of a modified equation to determine maximum weight of <br />explosives per delay for blasting operation at a particular site, may be approved by the Division, <br />on a receipt of reports including seismograph records of test blasting on the site. SCC did not <br />obtain the Division's approval to increase the maximum weight of explosives in advance of [fie <br />blast conducted on July 24, 2001. Notice of Violation CV-2001-009 is being issued for: failure <br />to comply with the maximum weight of explosives to be detonated as determined by the scaled- <br />distance equation, and for failure to obtain Division approval fur the use of a modified equation <br />to determine maximum weight of explosives per delay. <br />