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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 complete inspection of the Sunlight Mine conducted by Erica Crosby of DMG. The mine is a bond forfeiture site, therefore, no company representative was present during the inspection. Weather conditions on site were clear and warm. Ground conditions were dry. The primary purpose of this inspection was to gather information to evaluate a reduced inspection frequency for the Sunlight Mine. Rule 5.03.318) allows the Division to reduce the inspection frequency at coal mines required in Rules 5.02.211) and 121. The Reduced Inspection Frequency Form was completed and is attached to this inspection report for further detail. Roads The upper road continues to be blocked by a small berm located at the entrance of the road and appears to be obstructing vehicles from gaining access on the bench. The lower road is well vegetated and access is limited. Hydrologic Balance The upland diversion ditch around the north mine area has breached in the portion near the road, roughly 50 feet south of the intake portal. The ditch filled up with rock and sediment and diverted water down the cut slope. Gullies roughly 1 foot to 2 feet deep were noted on the slope. The sediment was deposited on the bench. The cut slope consists of shale material and sandstone rock. Little vegetation is in place. The remaining portion of the ditch is generally in good repair. Quite a bit of sediment was noted in the channel from the smaller tributaries. No erosion features were noted around the intake portal or the fan portal. Refuse material is eroding out from the crib wall into the county road ditch. Gullies one to two feet deep were noted throughout the pile. The gully leading to the sediment pond appears to be stabilizing. The pond was full of sediment, roughtly 1.5 feet from the principal spillway. The berm at the lower fan area was intact. No mine water discharge was noted from the fan portal. Backfilling & Grading The backfilled portals appear stable. No subsidence features were noted. The wooden shelter over the lower fan area has been demolished, but the portal seal remains intact. Processing Waste A few of the timbers on the east end of the pile have failed. The timbers were deposited in the road ditch, most likely due to the summer rain storms. Refuse material on this end is eroding into the ditch. The remaining timbers in the crib wall showed no signs of major instability, but erosion was noted and some of the timbers appear weak. Gullies one to two feet deep were noted throughout the pile. Revegetation Very little vegetation was noted on site due to the lack of topsoil. The mine site is dominated by coal fines and mine debris. The upper portion of the mine site contains roughly 10% vegetation consisting of Cheatgrass, shrubs, Intermediate Wheat Grass, Canadian Thistle and other unknown weeds. The lower portion has a higher proportion of established vegetation including Intermediate Wheatgrass, Timothy, Yellow Sweet Clover and some shrubs.