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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the <br />inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />On March 1, 1994, a complete inspection was conducted at the Marr Strip Mine. <br />Preceding the inspection, a meeting was held to discuss Kerr Coal Company's <br />anticipated bond release this spring. <br />Conditions at the mine were sunny and warm. A good amount of snow had <br />fallen since the fast inspection. The recently reclaimed areas were covered with <br />about 8 inches of snow. The snow on the access road was beginning to melt <br />and run off. <br />Briefly, during the meeting, the bond amount, schedule for release and <br />information necessary for the bond release were discussed. The operator had <br />the mine flown several weeks ago for the purpose of creating a topographic <br />map. Visual comparisons between this map and the approved post mining <br />topography map were made and the actual contours were very close to the <br />approved contours. <br />As part of the bond meeting, the mine was toured. All reclamation activities at <br />this mine have temporarily ceased for the season. Backfi(ling to approximate <br />original contour had been completed. There was good positive drainage <br />leaving the area of the reclaimed pit. This grade was about 3% according to the <br />operator. This is a little steeper than the approved post mining drainage but this <br />steeper slope is favorable. On the south end of the 720 pit a 2 foot scarp was <br />forming from the differential settling along the highwall. This is to be expected <br />given the of the depth of the fill. These areas will be repaired prior to topsoil <br />placement this summer. <br />The access road at the beginning of the inspection was mostly snow covered <br />and was melting quickly. This area was the only area of snowmelt observed. <br />Ail ditches were snow covered and it did not appear that this melt water was <br />reaching the sediment ponds. All ponds were snow covered and water levels in <br />the pond appeared low or empty. Ponds A and B for the past several months <br />have been used as treatment ponds for pit water discharge. The NPDES <br />permit had been revised to an industrial permit for this purpose. The <br />dewatering holes in the riser that had been plugged to increase the ponds <br />