INSPEC19688

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: OSM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 8/13/1992
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

MEIR NARRATIVE
should be cleaned up. Knapweed was noted in the reclaimed portion of the
road. The operator said that he would have it sprayed.
Pond #2 was dry.
The operator is proposing to open a new pit on the west edge of Nucla. The
area was identified by the previous operator as an area to be mined, the
Nucla east tract, but it was never done. The current proposal is to permit
200 plus acres in the area with 98.5 acres to be disturbed. work is
scheduled to start on the pit in May of '93 with the first coal to be
produced in July. One sediment pond is to be built for the disturbed area
drainage control. There will also be a diversion built above the area.
The life of mine in that area at the present time is scheduled for four
years with other areas of coal identified but not permitted. There is
prime farmland on the property. The question was raised about use and the
definition of cropland. If the land has not been used for cropland
the area will not be treated as prime farmland providing
the proper documentation is available. As to the question about cropland,
the definition of cropland CCR 1.09 (31) means "land used for the
production of adapted crops for harvest, alone or in a rotation with
grasses and legumes , includes row crops, small grain crops, hay crops,
nursery crops, orchard crops and other similar speciality crops".
Due to the proximity of occupied dwellings near the mine, over 300 notices
were sent out to occupants notifying them of their rights for requesting a
pre-blast survey. Of those, Mr. Wade says that they have 125-130
respondents have replied wishing the survey to be done. A contractor has
been hired by the operator to conduct the surveys. That was underway as
the inspection was in process per Mr. Wade. I also asked Mr. Wade if there
were any utility lines near the blasting area. He said that they have
notified the local electric, phone the sewage treatment plant about
blasting in the area. The operator is also going to set up an approved
test blast for monitoring and design purposes.
Ground water monitoring wells have also been set up on the new area to
gather background data. I did not ask about surface water monitoring. But
it was noted that there is a surface water flow near the area which
apparently is caused by springs.
Of the mine records reviewed, the following continents will be made:
Their mining permit, C-81-008, expires May 26, 1993.
Their NPDES permit, 00000213, which has been transferred to the new
operator expires Sept 30, 1994. A letter to the effect of the transfer xas
sent to the Colorado Division of Health May 18, 1992.
Their certificate of insurance was issued to Western-Fuels by the Federal
Insurance Co for the New Horizon mine. The policy, (i 37101046) expires
1\O1\93. The language of the policy indicates that the Regulatory
Authority will be notified in writing if the policy is modified or expires
for whatever reason.
Sediment pond certifications for as-builts are:
001 6\9\87
002 2\2\88
004 2\16\88
005 11\18\87
006 4\12\88
Annual certifications for the above mentioned structures are not required
by the Division until the start of '93.