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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />General Comments <br />This was an aerial inspection of the reclaimed areas, active reclamation areas, and support facility areas at <br />Seneca II-W. The flight was on the morning of 10/13/06. Harry Ranney of DRMS obtained 41 oblique and near- <br />vertical digital images. The images were viewed by Dan Mathews of DRMS on 10-17-06. Imagery covered <br />most portions of the reclaimed mine area, with the exception of the "D" Pit reclamation and the reduced Haul <br />Road "G". <br />The previous aerial inspection report described what appeared to be a short but apparently relatively deep gully <br />near the toe of the east facing reclaimed slope, east of the Ridgeline Road in the 1994 or 1995 revegetated <br />parcel, approximately 100 yards south of the junction of the Substation Road and Ridgeline Road. The gully <br />still appears to be present in that location, and will need to be field checked, and stabilized as warranted <br />in accordance with the Rill and Gully Plan. <br />The apparent small area of very dark spoil material mentioned in the previous aerial inspection report, possibly <br />coal or carbonaceous shale, on the slope south of and immediately adjacent to the upper end of Channel PM- <br />1A, in the 017 watershed, was not visible in the imagery obtained during the 10-13-06 flight. <br />Weather on the flight date was clear, but it was apparent that the mine site had received significant precipitation <br />shortly prior to the flight. All of the stock ponds visible in the imagery contained water, and puddles and muddy <br />areas were visible in low spots across the site. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />Sediment Ponds 006, 016, 016A, and 017 were all full or nearly full. Sediment ponds, collection ditches and <br />associated structures appeared to be functioning properly; there was no indication of sediment deposition <br />outside of approved disturbance boundaries. <br />Reclaimed area stock tanks T-5, T-26, and T-27 were visible in the images, and all contained pools of water. <br />Stock tank T-25, in the lower 017 watershed has not yet been constructed. Construction of T-25 this fall is <br />advised, as it would provide additional sediment retention for the relatively large area of recently <br />reclaimed steep slopes in the 017 watershed. <br />Backfill and Grading <br />The remnant scraper road along the 006 channel west of the Ridgeline Access Road, continuing across to the E- <br />1channel near the power line crossing is still intact. The portion of the road near the E-1 channel includes a <br />remnant cut and fill segment that will need to be graded out, as noted in previous reports. <br />Pit area backfilling and grading has been completed and permanent drainage channels in most locations in the <br />South Area active reclamation sites appear to have been at least roughly completed, with final shaping and <br />riprap installation still on-going in various locations. Grading associated with road reduction/modification for the <br />postmine configuration had been completed along the southern segment of Haul Road "J", near Sediment <br />Ponds 016 and 016A since the previous inspection. <br />No evidence of recent slumps or slides was observed in the areas covered by the imagery. Grading associated <br />with repair of the ridgeline area slide was largely completed prior to the previous inspection. Ditching along the <br />ranch road immediately above the slide area appears to be functioning properly. The slope up-gradient from the <br />slide that was regraded in association with the slide repair has been topsoiled and was just recently seeded. <br />There was minor puddling along the upper segment of the diversion in this location; further grading of the <br />diversion upper segment may be warranted when conditions dry sufficiently. <br />3 <br />