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<br />III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during <br />the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the <br />facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This partial inspection of the King Coal Mine was conducted by Wally Erickson from the <br />DMG Durango office, 484 Turner Drive, Building F, Suite 101, Durango, CO 81301, <br />phone 1970) 247-5193. Mr. Tom Bird was not available to accompany the DMG <br />inspector during the inspection. Operation was active during the time of this inspection. <br />Mine identification sign and safety signs were posted at the mine entrance. Public <br />access is controlled by gate and fence, gate was open. Mine entrance road, haul road <br />and access roads were well maintained. <br />Configuration of yard and coal stockpile area had been modified to allow installation of <br />additional coal processing equipment. <br />Burn pit had been excavated in material storage area, located between sediment pond <br />and office trailer. Burn pit was approximately 10' deep and 1 5' wide, access to pit is <br />provided by earthen ramp. Trash was smoldering within pit. Fire hazard appeared <br />minimal since burn pit had been excavated well below residual layer of coal fines, into <br />native ground. <br />Upland diversion ditches and culverts appeared clear and well maintained. Sediment <br />sumps within the upland diversion ditch had not been recently cleaned but appeared to <br />have sufficient capacity to function as designed. Debris screens, constructed from roof <br />bolts and installed within upland diversion ditch, were clear of debris. <br />Surface of the refuse pile was graded to convey drainage from pile to sediment <br />containment ditch. Evidence of impounded water on refuse pile was not located. <br />Surface and side slopes of refuse pile appeared stable. Due to the steep slope <br />conditions, upland drainage for the small watershed immediately upslope of the refuse <br />pile is combined with disturbed area drainage and routed to the sediment ponds for <br />treatment. Upland drainage and refuse pile drainage is conveyed under the refuse pile <br />access road through a 6" pipe culvert. <br />Both sediment ponds were holding water, embankments were well vegetated and <br />appeared stable. Spillways were clear of sediment and debris, no discharge noted. <br />Yard drainage is conveyed to the smaller, north pond, via a swale cut in the mine <br />entrance road. All affected area drainage appeared to report to one of the two sediment <br />ponds for treatment. <br />Spill containment berm surrounding the fuel tank, located adjacent to the office trailer, <br />was intact. Fuel tank appeared intact, no evidence of rupture or escaped fluids were <br />observed. <br />