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Colowyo C-1981-019 <br />22 August 2007 <br />Pg 5/7 <br />Backfilling and Grading: -The operator has completed the earthwork with the 101 <br />dragline on the east edge of the East Pit and is beginning to use a dozer to push the <br />remaining material into the "hole" that is there to bring that entire area to grade. The <br />operator would like to get this area to grade and tied in so it can be topsoiled and <br />seeded this fall with the other areas that are scheduled for topsoiling and reseeding. <br />The 101 is currently walking along the highwall of the open East Pit performing <br />reclamation work. It was at approximately the half-way point of the East Pit. There <br />was also a Dl 1 dozer pushing highwall material into the pit at the time of the <br />inspection. A portion of the east pit, where the new Tri-State power line will cross, is to <br />grade at this time. **See pictures at the end of this report. <br />-The Operator has completed the earthwork on the Prospect Ditch. Riprap is being <br />placed in this drainage and it needs to be completed this construction season to <br />ensure its stability. The lower portion has been completed except the portion where it <br />ties-in to the native ground. This tie-in point will be the critical point for the riprap and <br />stabilization. The Division has requested a certified as-built drawing of this drainage in <br />its Permit Renewal 05 preliminary adequacy letter. **See pictures at the end of this <br />report. <br />-The 102 dragline was down for several weeks so it has completed no new <br />reclamation in the Wesf Pit. <br />-The top of the West Pit overburden stockpile still needs to be removed to the new <br />approved elevation as permitted in Technical Revision 63. <br />- Last year the operator completed approximately 80 acres of backfilling and <br />grading in the East Pit (achieving final grade) but did not spread any topsoil. The <br />SEDCAD modeling for the ponds in the watersheds of the East Pit are dependent on <br />keeping up with the topsoiling and seeding of regraded lands. If the operator gets <br />behind in this area the worst-case SEDCAD model will be exceeded, leading to <br />possible serious problems with the associated sediment ponds. The operator was <br />placing topsoil on these areas and stated that more acreage would be topsoiled as <br />well. Colowyo is also hiring a contractor this year to perform the seeding of the newly <br />topsoiled areas. <br />Support Facilities: -The facilities area was in good condition at the time of the <br />inspection. No problems were noted with the area. <br />- The Gossard Loadout appeared to be stable and in good condition at the time of <br />the inspection. It was very windy on the afternoon of 22 August 2007 and there was <br />some fugitive dust coming from the stacker tube at the loadout above the UTL. The <br />amount of fugitive dust, however, did not appear to be a problem. <br />Topsoil: -The operator moved the topsoil stockpile at the south edge of the West Pit <br />to allow for pit advancement and work on the South Taylor Pit. This topsoil was <br />moved to the west edge of the East Pit. Because the topsoil stockpile was moved <br />with the 1 14 shovel, there was some material that remained last inspection. This <br />topsoil that remained has been moved with a truck and loader. The topsoil pile must <br />now be sloped and seeded to protect the resource. Tay also indicated that a <br />perimeter ditch will be constructed to contain the topsoil. <br />