INSPEC21099

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 9/23/1997
• Doc Name: MINE SITE EVALUATION INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 8/19/1997
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Narrative Statement for the 1997 Colorado Special Focus Review
of
Coal Waste Banks at the Bowie #1 Mine
Background
OSM and DMG agreed to conduct a special focus review of coal waste banks ("coal
refuse piles') at the Bowie #1 mine under the 1997 attachment to the performance
agreement. The special focus I completed included a records review at DMG's Denver
office and at the mine office. It also included a review of the two refuse piles in the
field. Joe Dudash and Dave Berry represented DMG and conducted a partial
inspection of the piles on August 19, 1997. Glen Golden, Mitch Rollings, and
represented OSM during DMG's inspection. Mr. Basil Bear, consultant, represented
Bowie Resources, LTD.
The 1996-1997 performance agreement states that reclamation of coal refuse piles will
be considered successful when the piles are constructed and reclaimed in the manner
in which DMG has approved as specified in the permit. To evaluate construction and
reclamation, the agreement prescribes determining that the permittee followed methods
approved for coal mine waste bank water control, construction, and reclamation by
verifying the following: That the operator inspected the waste banks as required; that
the operator constructed and maintained water control measures as required; and that
the operator followed construction requirements addressing lifts, compaction, cover,
and other features as found in DMG's rules. In that context, the Team decided the
special focus review would be an evaluation of the refuse piles' compliance with the
approved mine permit. Review of water controls emphasized comparing flow patterns
to the approved plan and determining if problems, such as excessive erosion, occurred
and if they had the potential of creating off-site impacts. The team a re
features prohibit successfj~l_reclamation, as provided in section 4.16.6 of DMG's rules.
Waste bank construction was evaluated by spot-checking construction details to
determine compliance with approved designs.
Two coal refuse piles are located at the Bowie #1 mine. They are: The west ridge
waste disposal area (WRWDA); and the old waste disposal area (OWDA). Design
information for the two piles is found throughout the mine plan. Most of that information
can be found in mine plan volumes 1, 6, and 8. This review focused on the refuse piles
and their integral drainage structures. It included only cursory field observations of
their associated ponds and didn't address access roads.
OSM inspection reports weren't available for the period of 1990 through the present.
However, records show OSM conducted a special focus review in the 1989 evaluation
year of designs for drainage and diversion ditches associated with refuse piles. That
3