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<br />Sanborn Creek Mine: ne. 3 <br />We returned to the main mine facilities and continued our inspection at the east end of the <br />disturbed area. We made stops and observations of the following: mine water discharge pond; <br />No.2 power substation and vent fan; east yard pond and material storage area; main facilities <br />pond (Pond B); new gob pile area and gob pile pond (Under drain completed and photographed <br />and permittee preparing as-built drawing for the pond. Pond was completely dry.); ]oadout silo <br />(sediment pond may be impacted by railroad line realignment); we stopped at the Somerset <br />Cemetery for photo overview of the site; and we concluded at the Upper Elk Creek azea where <br />we discussed possible future portal development locations for D-seam development. <br />We continued the inspection on 7/15 with observations of the following: old gob pile azea; coal <br />loadout azea; Somerset Mine B-seam portals were being backfilled and will be covered over with <br />the expansion of the coal stockpile area; we walked the upland diversion for the new gob pile <br />azea (West Valley Fill No. 1); and we completed the inspection at the Thompson Creek No. 1 & <br />2 well site. The No. 1 deep well was not completed properly to allow for planned monitoring and <br />the permittee is making arrangements [o have the landowner assume control of the well, or the <br />well will be sealed and abandoned. <br />We held a brief close out meeting with W alt Wright, Vice President of operations. I indicated, as <br />did other inspection participants, that the mine staff and contractors should be commended for <br />overall site appeazance and maintenance, particulazly considering the amount of new construction <br />and site development work of the past several months. Mr. Anderson has also done a good job of <br />working with the B.L.M., Forest Service, and private landowners/grazing permittees to ensure <br />comprehensive land use planning for reclaimed areas. There were no off site impacts noted <br />during the inspection. <br />Please address any questions concerning this inspection report to Henry Austin at (303) 844-1466 <br />or a-mail to haustin@osmre.gov <br />