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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of <br />observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any <br />enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence <br />supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a complete inspection of the New Horizon Mine for the month of <br />February, 1997. The site continues to produce coal at its normal pace and has <br />recently had an expansion of the permit area approved. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS: Records were inspected and found to be <br />satisfactory. See page 5 of this report for more details. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE: Mine 1: Ponds 1 and 6 had water in them but only 1 was <br />discharging as normal, all other ponds were dry. Ditches and culverts are <br />functioning as designed. Mine 2: Pond 7 was receiving pit pumpage, which was <br />clear to the naked eye. Pond 7 was not discharging. All ditches and culverts <br />are clear and capable of functioning as designed. <br />BACKFILL & GRADING: B & G was in progress as is normal. The current area (26) <br />was inspected with 3.5 feet of selected fill being laid down at the north end <br />to over 6 feet at the south end of fill being laid down over the overburden. <br />The Rice tract area may require some minor grading to even out 3 low spots in <br />the drainage channel. <br />EXPLOSIVES: An overburden blast using an "air cushion" technique was <br />observed during this inspection and all went well. Seismographs were placed <br />350 ft. from the blast and the maximum PPV recorded was .95 ips, which is <br />below the maximum possible. Records were complete, accurate, and up to date. <br />TOPSOIL: The topsoiling campaign is over for this year and excess topsoil <br />has been stored at a new location. Horizon 1 and 2 piles are windrowed <br />adjacent to area 26 in preparation for spreading later this spring. <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS: The winter wheat cover crop is doing very well due to <br />the irrigation practices and late fall moisture. The Rice Tract area is <br />starting to green up and will receive another year of side roll irrigation <br />this coming season. <br />