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October 23, 2003 <br />Honeywood Coal Company <br />Attn: Rick Ward <br />95 Whitebridge Road, # 404 <br />Nashville, TN 37205 <br />Hamilton Mine <br />Complete, Oversight Inspection <br />October 2, 2003 <br />Participants: <br />Harry Ranney, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) <br />Henry Austin, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) <br />I participated in a complete, oversight inspection of the Hamilton Mine on October 2, 2003, as indicated <br />above. This site was chosen by the joint DMG / OSM Oversight Team for evaluation during evaluation <br />year 2004 that began July 1, 2003. Weather conditions were raining and cool, and ground conditions <br />were wet with roads beginning to turn slippery. There was not enough rain to cause noticeable surface <br />water runoff, and sediment ponds were not holding water during the inspection. This inspection did not <br />document any offsite impacts from the reclaimed site, and primarily focused on reclamation success as <br />described below. <br />All roadways appeared stable with no significant erosion noted. The entire site is reclaimed and has <br />received a Phase I bond release. This is a private (no Federal coal or surface) mine. The roadway is <br />approved to remain. There are 3 topsoil plies on site that are all stable. Both sediment ponds are <br />currently scheduled to be removed. They are also stable. <br />The site was initially seeded in 1994, and reseeded-completed in 1995. The landowner has aggressively <br />maintained the site for weed control. Weed control has been a problem here, particularly given the <br />multiple year drought cycle, and has also affected vegetation establishment. All reclaimed slopes <br />appeared stable, and no problematic erosion was noted. Both DMG and the landowner are monitoring <br />vegetation establishment, and some husbandry (reseeding-planting) practices may be necessary in areas <br />where weeds have heavily dominated the ground cover the past few years. The landowner has conducted <br />approved cattle grazing on the reclaimed area. Signs and markers are in order. This concluded <br />the field inspection. <br />Mr. Ranney conducted a thorough records review at the nearby landowner's residence. All required <br />records were reviewed and in order including: DMG permit that expires 2/10/07, liability insurance is <br />current, annual reclamation reports have been submitted to DMG in a timely manner, pond certifications <br />and inspections are current, NPDES permit and DMR's are current, and the bond is on file and current. <br />This concluded the records review. <br />Please address any questions concerning this inspection report to Henry Austin at haustin C~osmre.Qov or <br />to (303) 844-1400 x1466 <br />