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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. extinguished, and that methane was no longer present at elevated levels, and a 103(K) order that had been issued by MSHA was lifted at that time. On December 6, at I I:30 a.m., I inspected the site accompanied by John Barton of the DMG Mine Safety and Training Program, and Tonya Hammond of PCC. At the time of our inspection, dirt movingoperations had been initiated to construct a ramp to the top of the I S foot frame structure to allow for filling with dirt over the top of the concrete. Prior to our arrival, a crack which had opened up at some point behind the retaining wall over the top of the backfilled conveyor entry had been filled in with dirt. John Barton took a number of methane readings in the vicinity of the fan shaft frame and along thebackfilled crack location, all of which were below the combustible concentration. John indicated that he was satisfied that the fire/explosion hazard was being properly ameliorated by the work accomplished and in progress. He further indicated that, although methane will continue to escape from the workings even upon final backfilling of the decline area, it would likely be in highly dispersed form. Conditions which lead to the fire (venting via cracks in the fan shaft which resulted in combustible concentrations in the partially enclosed fan shaft frame structure) had been abated. When 1 viewed the site on December 14, dirt fill had been loosely dumped in the frame structure, filling it to a depth of 4 to 5 feet below the rim of the structure. The entire frame will be buried in-place during backfilling of the portal decline area. The crack over the conveyor portal had not re-opened. There remained a faint "musty mine air" odor in the immediate vicinity of the filled in crack and the fan frame structure, which we had also noticed on December 6. Several loads ofnon-salvage demolition debris, including corrugated metal, cinder blocks, chunks of broken up reinforced concrete structure, etc., had been hauled into the decline and dumped along a 100 yard segment extending up from the base of the decline. This debris will be buried duringbackfilling. A pool of water from melting snow approximately 30' by 30' by 18" deep has developed at the toe of the portal backtill. Conveyor structure within the portal decline had been completely dismantled. At the North Portal Coal Handling Area, conveyorswcture had been dismantled and were no longer standing, although the dismantled metal conveyor and binstructues were still on site. The concrete and metal base of the coal stacker were still in place, along with the concrete reclaim tunnel structure and the tunnel escapeway structure. In addition to the dismantled structures, numerous pieces of mining and mine support equipment remain at the site. The electrical substation near the North Decline has been approved for retention associated with possible future operation of the rail Loadout by Lodestar Energy, Inc. The old well (apparently into old Cameo mine workings) and associated pump and hoses are still in place. Operator should clam whether the pump and associate structures will be removed, and the well sealed during North Portal structure! demolition operations. Sediment Pond 4 was dry and the embankment appeared stable. Diversion and collection ditches were properly maintained and functional. Sediment clean-vp and replacement ojstraw bales at the concrete dip section an Coa! Creek adjacent to the North Porte! area is warranted. Unit Train Loadout Sediment Pond I&2 and the sewage lagoons were dry. The only structures remaining at theloadout are the rail loop and spur, the train loading tower and associated feeder conveyor, [he coal reclaim tunnel