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<br />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 <br />inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was an partial inspection of the New Horizon Mine for the month of September, 1996. The <br />main purpose of this inspection was to conduct a joint OSM/DMG special focus inspection <br />concentrating on contemporaneous reclamation. Present for the inspection was Henry Austin <br />(OSM), Harry Ranney (DMGI, Ross Gubka (WFC), and Todd Lefre (WFC). <br />The mine was preparing for its next topsoil removal campaign but was not actively mining coal <br />as the power plant was at a halt to do some required maintenance. <br />As the mine is a truck and shovel operation, there are no spoil ridges and backfilling and grading <br />of the pit is an on going operation. Special handling of the spoils by the mine places the most <br />suitable growing medium at the top of the fill and allows the coaly/shaley material to be placed <br />at the bottom of the pit. <br />The mine operators were placing the suitable growth medium (4 feet) at the time of the <br />inspection and all topsoiling stakes were placed on 100 x 100 foot grids to insure accurate <br />placement of topsoil lifts. The depths that were marked was allowing for an 18 inch lift to be <br />laid down. Subsoil was already in place and was within 50-75 feet of the active pit. It was <br />noted that drainages were being installed according to the approved plan. After the topsoil is <br />laid down, mine personnel will plant a cover crop this fall to protect the topsoil resource. <br />Annual reclamation reports were checked and it was noted that for 1995, 44.8 acres were <br />disturbed, 43.4 acres were backfilled and graded, and 43.4 acres were topsoiled. The majority <br />of the seeding took place in the spring as the topsoiling was concluded in December of 95, too <br />late for a fall planting. <br />Pond 7 was inspected and found to be in compliance. The pond is stable and was not <br />discharging. All ditches and culverts on Mine 2 are clear and functioning as designed. <br />Reclamation success at the site is very good due to the diligent irrigation efforts. The Rice Tract <br />at Mine 1 is in the second year of growth and grasses are becoming well established. <br />