INSPEC22829

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 7/25/2006
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Colowyo C-1981-019
25 July 2006
Pg 4/7
Hydrologic Balance (cont): -The Prospect Pond (NPDES 007) contained water
approximately six feet below the discharge pipe and was not discharging at the time
of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no
erosional problems were noted. The emergency spillway is a riprapped channel.
The emergency spillway was stable and in good condition.
-The Gulch A Pond (NPDES 004) contained water approximately eight feet below the
discharge pipe and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. There was a
small amount of sediment at the pond inlet but this may have been exaggerated
due to the pond's low water level. The pond embankment was well vegetated and
stable and no erosional problems were noted. The emergency spillway is a
riprapped channel. The emergency spillway was stable and in good condition.
-The Streeter Pond (NPDES 001) contained water approximately one and a half feet
below the discharge pipe and was discharging from the weep hole in the pipe. The
discharge was at approximately the 0.7 line on the flume and appeared to be clear.
The operator has had more muskrat issues at the pond's discharge pipe and weep
hole area. They are trying to block the pipe to contain the water. The operator
cleaned the area and eliminated the muskrats from the pond.
-The operator is in the process of pumping water from Section 4 of the West Pit in
preparation for the highwall miner. They are pumping the water into another area of
the West Pit. This water contains asilt/clay that will not settle out if it is pumped into
the East Taylor Pond, thus causing an exceedence of the NPDES permit.
Backfilling and Grading: -The operator continues to finish the regrading work at the
southeast portion of the East Pit. We visited this area on the afternoon of 25 July 2006
with Andy Thompson, the dragline engineer. The operator is recontouring this area,
pulling spoil up from the bottom of the ridge and grading it to its final, approved
topography with a dragline. There is still a wedge that needs approximately 2 million
cubic yards to fill. The operator has placed grade stakes along the perimeter to
show the final contour. The dragline was not operating at the time of the inspection.
The operator is completing this work as time permits but stated that more shifts are
being dedicated to the reclamation. To the west of this area there are a few small
depressions that are scheduled to be filled in to prepare the area for topsoil
placement and seeding this fall.
-The reclaimed portions of the East Pit are well vegetated and appear to be stable.
No erosional problems were noted.
-The operator appears to have reached asteady-state operation in the West Pit.
Spoil from the current operation is being hauled and dumped in the middle of the
north side of the West Pit. Much of the north portion of the West Pit (between the
open pit and the West Pit excess overburden stockpile - Hink's peak) appears to be
graded at this point. This area appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection.
Support Facilities: -The facilities area was in good condition at the time of the
inspection. No problems were noted with the area.
-The Gossard Loadout was also in good condition at the time of the inspection.