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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 inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />General Comments <br />This was a partial, aerial inspection of the mine site. The site was flown on the afternoon of August 28, and 11 <br />oblique and near vertical digital aerial image photos were taken by Harry Ranney of DRMS. The digital images <br />(0179 through 0189) were viewed by Dan Mathews of DRMS on August 30, 2007. In most cases, the extent of <br />maintenance performed in response to items identified in the July inspection report could not be determined with <br />certainty, and ground checks will be necessary. Reclamation work associated with final reclamation of the South <br />Portals mine area has been initiated. Grading and some seeding work had been completed in portions of the <br />area; atrack-hoe was working along the lower-most segment of Light Use Road 1, and a crane was on site at <br />the portal bench for use in structural demolition. <br />South Portals Area <br />Backfill and grading of the entire length of Light Use Road 1 from the top of the RSRDA to the upper <br />terminus above the soil borrow area had been largely completed, with apparently only a very short <br />segment below the final switchback still to be completed. The water tank bench had also been <br />regraded, as had the "A" substation area. Seeding and mulching had been completed at the "A" <br />substation and a silt fence installed. Seeding and mulching had also been completed along the upper <br />segment of the reclaimed light use road down to the soil borrow reclaimed area. Seeding/mulching had <br />been initiated on the graded water tank bench area. Graded areas of the water tank bench and light use <br />road appeared to blend in well to the adjacent slopes. The extent of seedbed preparation roughening <br />was difficult to discern from the aerial images, and will need to be checked on the ground. <br />Sediment Ponds 8 and 9 appeared to contain shallow puddles. <br />RSRDA Borrow Area <br />• Drainage channels and slopes appeared to be in good condition; the reclaimed area is beginning to <br />blend in well to surrounding areas, as seeded grasses and shrubs are maturing and slowly increasing in <br />density. <br />North Decline <br />• Conditions appeared to be similar to those described in the previous inspection. <br />North Portal Vicinity <br />• None of the images provided good coverage of the North Portal Area. Observations made during a <br />subsidence liability release site inspection, also conducted on August 28, confirmed that grading of road <br />ditch segments on HR-4 in the immediate vicinity of the coal creek crossing near the North Portal Area, <br />as well as the ditch curve at intersection of HR-4 and HR-5 had been properly completed. <br />CBA-2 <br />• Conditions appeared similar to those described in the previous inspection. <br />CRDA-1 <br />Conditions appeared to be similar to those described in previous inspection. Status of ditch <br />maintenance on the NW Collection Ditch adjacent to HR-5 could not be determined due to the angle of <br />the imagery. <br />3 <br />