INSPEC23029

• Permit No: C1980006
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 6/1/2001
• Doc Name: MINE SITE EVALUATION STATE PROGRAM
• Inspection Date: 5/22/2001
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

May 24, 2001
Kerr Coal Company
2155 Resort Drive
P.O. Box 773457
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Marr Mine & Kerr Loadout Area
Phase I & lI Bond Release Inspection
May 22, 2001
Participants
Toone Crowner, Jackson County Commissioner Jim Stark, CO/DMG
George Patterson, Kerr Coal Company Chuck Cesar, BLM
Jerry Nettelton, Montgomery Watson John Morrone, BLM
Sandy Brown, CO/DMG Henry Austin, OSM
I participated in this bond release inspection representing the Office of Surface Mining,
Denver Field Division. The above participants met at the mine office on May 22, 2001,
and Mr. Nettelton conducted a briefing that highlighted the release application contents
and also answered questions for the inspection participants. We then proceeded to inspect
three sepazate reclamation areas including the 720 Pit, Pit 1, and the Kerr Loadout Area
(former railroad siding /coal loading facility at Walden, CO).
The bond release application is dated September 6, 2000, and a subsequent submittal to
the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) that addresses application
deficiencies identified by DMG is dated May 16, 2001. The May 16 submittal is currently
under review by DMG and was provided to inspection participants. The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) was notified of the inspection, and the above BLM participants
accompanied us during the inspection. According to Ms. Brown, the appropriate
newspaper publication and landowner notifications were made prior to the inspection.
No Public comments have been received by DMG to date.
Weather and ground conditions were dry during the inspection. We began at the
reclaimed 720 Pit area. We walked through portions of the area making general
revegetation observations and we also tested topsoil replacement depths by digging holes
in several areas. Revegetation cover /species sampling done by Kerr Coal during 1999
has been reviewed by DMG and is being reviewed by OSM. General observations
indicated both good cover and species diversity. Topsoil replacement depths appeared to
meet or exceed permit requirements as specified in the May 16 deficiency submittal.
Only minor erosion was noted in one area that had been recently repaired by Ken.
Protected /designated drainways observed were stable. The reclaimed highwall slopes
and contour furrows in this area were stable. Permanent water impoundments have been
approved by DMG for Ponds A, B, D, and E. The remaining sedimentation ponds will be
removed and reclaimed after Phase II bond release approval.