INSPEC15222

• Permit No: C1982056
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 9/27/2002
• 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 was a partial inspection conducted by Tom Kaldenbach of the Colorado
Division of Minerals and Geology. Mitch Rollings of the OSM jointly
conducted an oversight special focus inspection on the topic fish and
wildlife. Richard Cox and Ed Conkle represented the operator. With the
operator's consent, this report was not issued in the field.
The site was very dry due to a prolonged statewide drought.
The longwall was active in panel 14 Right.
Fish and Wildlife
The following items were inspected.
1. Fish and wildlife mitigation plan - Pages 2.05-124 through 2.05-127.1
of the permit application contain the plan. We reviewed the plan and
found no deficiencies.
2. Raptor protection - The plan calls for design and construction of
powerlines in accordance with REA Bulletin 61-10. Bulletin 61-10
suggests that where electrocuted birds are found, conductor and ground
wires should be adequately spaced on poles to protect raptors. We
checked numerous power poles in the permit area for dead birds and
compliance with the Bulletin. Special attention was given to poles
with three-phase lines or transformers. No dead birds were found. Out
of several dozen poles inspected, a few had perches that had either
fallen over or had fallen off the pole. Also, a few poles appeared to
have powerlines too near the top of the pole to allow safe roosting,
although the Bulletin may not require greater spacing unless dead
birds are found. Given this uncertainty of compliance of some of the
poles and the disrepair of some of the perches, the Division requests
that the operator assess the need for:
a) altering certain poles so that conductors or grounds are an
adequate distance from the tops of poles;
b) repair or replacement of perches, where needed.
This assessment would be conducted in consultation with the Division,
and would include a survey of powerpoles in the permit area and a
review of raptor protection publications that are newer than Bulletin
61-10.
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