INSPEC32842

• Permit No: C1981025
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection report
• Inspection Date: 8/6/2002
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III, COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations
made during the inspection. Comments in Section IV describe any enforcement actions
taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action.
HYDROLOGIC BALANCE There was no surface runoff at the site. The site was very dry. Both
sedimentation ponds (Pond P-9 and the Mine Waste Disposal Area pond) were dry. With the
exception of a tree growing in the emergency spillway of the Mine Waste Disposal Area pond
(see Photograph 214gm), both ponds were in good repair. The permanent drainage across
the Porfal 1 Facilities Area from the north side of Pitkin County Road 1 to Norfh Thompson
Creek was in good repair (see Photograph 203gm2). The permanent relief drain off the Mine
Waste Disposal Area was in good repair (see Photograph 202gm). The culvert (Culvert 6) under
Pitkin County Road 1 was half filled with sediment (still in compliance with the permit).
There was mine water discharge from both Portal 1 and Portal 3 (see Photograph 216g). The
riffle Yz-pipe to the Long Pond {Photograph 217g), the Long Pond, and Treatment Ponds 7-1
and T-2 were in good repair and operating properly. Flow at the discharge from Pond T-2 was
5 gal/14.5 seconds (See Photograph 212g).
The landowner has the capability to draw water from Pond T-2 and pump it to a stock tank.
Photograph 196g is of the stock tank. Water was not being pumped at the time of the
inspection.
Three seeps were noted on the south side of North Thompson Creek (strong sulfur smell).
Photograph 219g is of the Power of these seeps (note white deposit on the south bank of North
Thompson Creek). This seep is stratigrafically below the coal seams mined at the North
Thompson Creek Mines. Another seep (strong sulfur smell), located between Portals 1 and 2 on
the north side of Pitkin County Road 1, was damp but not flowing. This seep is located
between coal seams mined at the North Thompson Creek Mines.
BACKFILL AND GRADING Demolition is included under this category of reclamation.
Demolition of the bases of water monitoring flumes and associated reclamation is still required
at the site. Photographs 199g and 197g are of the upper and lower flumes on Middle
Thompson Creek. Photographs 209g and 215g are of the upper and lower flumes on North
Thompson Creek. There is concrete rubble in the bank of Norfh Thompson Creek at the site of
the upper flume (Photographs 210g and 211 g).
All backfill was found to be in compliance with the approved reclamation plan. Previous
findings (Bond Releases of 03/28/88, 11 /23!93 and 11!13/2001) that backfill of Portal 1 (see
Photograph 218gm), Portal 3 (Photograph 204), Middle Thompson Creek Air Portal
(Photograph 198g), Stony Ridge Air Shaft (Photograph 201 grn), New Air Fan Shaft (Photograph
2058) and road cuts (Photographs 204g, 206g and 208g) were validated by the inspection.
The backfill of these areas appeared to be stable, with no signs of erosion. The backfill of
roadways was exemplary. Grading, also previously found to be in compliance with the permit
with associated bond releases, was also validated during the inspection. The facilities area of
Portal 1 appears in Photographs 203gm and 203gm2, of the Portal 3 facilities area in
Photograph 204g, of the New Air Fan Shaff area in Photograph 205g, and of the Mine Waste
Disposal area in Photograph 213g. These areas were found to be in good shape.
C-81-025, Page ~ of !`i Pages, (date) 9 L~-s U Z (initials) -r,./~-~~