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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Elk Creek C-1981-022 <br />Pg 1/2 15 March 2006 <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations <br />made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during <br />the Inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a complete inspection of the Elk Creek and Sanborn Creek Mines conducted by <br />Jim Stark of CDMG. The inspection was conducted on 15 March 2006. Jim Kiger of Oxbow <br />accompanied me on the inspection. The mine was not producing coal at the time of the <br />inspection due to roof problems and a probable longwall move. The weather was cold and <br />partly sunny and the ground was covered with snow. <br />Availability of Records: All of the necessary records were available at the mine office. See <br />the DMG Availability of Records form at the end of this inspection for more details. <br />Roads: -The mine access road is a paved road. The road is well maintained and in good <br />condition. <br />-The east yard haul road was stable and well maintained at the time of the inspection. <br />There were no rutting or erosional problems noted on the road. <br />-The road to the Elk Creek portals and facilities area was stable and well maintained at the <br />time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the road. <br />- The haul road to the West Valley Fill was stable and well maintained at the time of the <br />inspection. Although very muddy, no erosional problems were noted on the road. <br />- The back entrance to the mine from Highway 133 was stable at the time of the inspection. <br />This road is primarily used to access the Sanborn Creek gob vent boreholes and the mine <br />when a train is blocking the main entrance. <br />- The road to the Hubbard Creek fan site was inaccessible due to snow. <br />Hydrologic Balance: - Pond B contained water approximately five feet below the emergency <br />spillway at the time of the inspection but was not discharging (discharge is through a gated <br />valve below the water level). The embankment was well vegetated and appeared to be <br />stable. No erosional problems were noted. The emergency spillway was stable at the time <br />of the inspection. <br />- Pond D contained water approximately six inches below the discharge pipe and was not <br />discharging at the time of the inspection. The embankment was well vegetated and stable. <br />No erosional problems were noted. The pond has an oil boom and it was in place. The <br />trash rack was in placed on the primary discharge pipe. There is some sediment at the inlet <br />of the pond but it does not appear to be a problem at this time. <br />-The East Yard pond was partly full of coal fines and sediment that flowed into the pond <br />from the soupy material from the clean out of pond B. The inlet edge of the pond also has a <br />fairly large pile of fines and sediment as well. This material will be hauled to the West Valley <br />Fill as soon as it is sufficiently dry to be properly spread and compacted with the refuse. The <br />coal fines and sediment in the pond should not be a problem as the area that contributes to <br />the pond is either revegetated or no longer used for mining operations. <br />- Pond F at the Hubbard Creek Fan site was inaccessible due to snow at the time of the <br />inspection. <br />- The roadside ditches along the Elk Creek access road and the East Yard haul road all <br />appeared to be clean and functioning properly at the time of the inspection. <br />U <br />