INSPEC16122

• Permit No: C1981039
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: COAL INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 9/7/1990
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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III. Comments - Compliance
Below are comments on the inspeG,~on. The comments include discussion of
observations made during the inspge~d~G,,ion. Comments also describe any
enforcement act ions taken during £h~inpsection and the facts or evidence
supporting the enforcement action.
On September 7 and 8, 1990, A Bond Release Inspection wes performed ~~ the
Grassy Gap Mine. Mr. Dennis Byrnes, OSM-AFO and Mr. Robert Inman OSM-4fTC
accompanied Susan McCannon, CMLRD on a general inspection of reclamation
activities on September 7, 1990. Cathy Begej and Harry Ranney (MLRD)
surveyed the topography of Pits 1 and ~on September 7 and 8, 1990.
The permittee,Rackcastle Coal Company has employed HativeeExcavating to
reclaim Pit 4. Mr, Bill Miller was the day foreman on Thursday,
September 7, 1990. He indicated that all overburden hed been transferred
from the stockpile and shop area into the pit and that topsoiling was close
to completion. Prior to commencing work the stockpile and shop area had
been surveyed and the data collected at that time indicated that there was
542,000 cubic yards to be moved, of which 150;000 cubic yards were in the
shop area. Data received from the operator on September 14, 1990 indicated
that 527,345 cubic yards had been moved through the evening shift of
September 6, 1990.
Pits 1 and 4 were surveyed with a Zeiss Elta III survey instrument. A total
of 161 points were shot from three (3) different stations at Pit 4. Eighty
(80) points were shot from one (1) station at Pit 1. The data was downloaded
to the GIS/ISM software on the TIPS system. The accompanying topography maps
were constructed from these surveys.
Material from the Pit 4 overburden pile and the shop area fill had been
moved into the 12.5 acre pit. The reclaimed configuration of the pit
sloped north and west, to the haul road and Pond 4 respectively. A shallow
Swale ran down the western edge of the old pit. This Swale blended the
previously reclaimed area with the 1990 reclamation well. On the contrary,
the entire eastern edge of the disturbance from the north end of the pit
to the south end of the pile location was lightly lower than the undisturbed
area and needs to be brought up to grade.
The slopes east of Pond 4 were backfilled years ago and have not been
topsoiled. They have a 50X grade. A topsoil pile approximately 500'
long and 8' high sits at the top of the slope. The operator is preparing
plans to cut back the slope and complete reclamation in this area this fall.
Pit 1 is located on a ridge top 1 1/2 miles south of Pit 4. This 14.3
acre pit slopes to the north. A small Swale runs to the south from the
central portion of the pit. Backfilling blends well with adjacent and
disturbed areas 'and no cracks are evident. The operator installed three
foot deep contour furrows throughout the reclaimed surface which frequently
have been observed to arrest water.
The Pond at Pit 4 had not discharged since 1988, according to NPDES records.
There is no pond nt Pit 1; it was removed in 1987.
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