INSPEC22894 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

December 14, 2006 National King Coal, LLC (NKC) 4424 County Road, 120 Hesperus, CO 81326 King Coal Mine I Complete, oversight inspection December 13, 2006 Participants: Clint Sandlian, NKC Tom Kaldenbach, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DBMS) Ralph Lamson & Randy Poleahla, Hopi Tribe Henry Austin, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) I participated in a complete, oversight inspection of the King Coal Mine I on December 13, 2006. We also briefly inspected and discussed the proposed, new portal location for the King Coal Mine II (Mine II is a major revision to the existing Mine I permit rather than a separate permit.) Weather conditions were cold and dry, with recent snow and frozen ground conditions. No offsite impacts were identified during the inspection. We began the inspection at the Mine I surface facilities area and made stops and observations at the following: coal stockpile and truck loadout area, coal beltline portal azea, and the waste rock & coal refuse pile. The outslope of the coal refuse pile was topsoiled during 2006 with seeding during early December 2006. The topsoil replacement has heavy pocking-land imprinting to prevent erosion and is stable. The pile is well maintained including positive surface water runoff and refuse compaction as required. Mr. Sandlian discussed the pile construction and maintenance. Mr. Kaldenbach and Mr. Sandlian discussed the surface water runoff control berm along the outside of the haul road up the pile. A small portion of the berm requires maintenance to function as designed. Surface water runoff control diversions were stable and functional. We inspected the clean water diversion inlet, fan portal, clean water diversion ditches, clean water diversion culverts, and fuel-lubricant and material storage areas all of which were well maintained and functioning as designed. The west (primary} sediment pond was frozen and appeared stable. This pond had sediment removal completed summer 2005. The east (secondary) sediment pond was also frozen and appeared stable. The east pond will have sediment removal completed by spring 2007. The SAE and material storage area at the mine entrance was well maintained and functional. We inspected the proposed King Coal Mine II portal azea. The permittee recently completed minor coal exploration at the proposed portal location to locate the coal seam. This minor disturbance is stable with sediment control fence functioning. Mr. Sandlian and Mr. Kaldenbach discussed the proposed surface facilities and we reviewed the approved map for these facilities. The permittee anticipates surface facility construction to begin with possible completion within 2 years.