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Colowyo C-1981-019 <br />20 June 2007 ~j~ <br />Pg 5/6 <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, the edges were not able to be moved (due to the operational <br />constraints of the 1 14 shover. This topsoil will be moved with a loader. It is imperative <br />that this soil is moved soon so that the topsoil resource is not lost or damaged. <br />-The operator, through the Bower Brothers, has begun moving topsoil in the Taylor <br />Creek in what appears to be the area of the East Taylor Fill. The topsoil is being <br />stockpiled in the pile above the East Pit highwall. This is at least the third consecutive <br />year that Bower has removed topsoil at the Colowyo Mine. The operation was <br />progressing nicely. As in the past few years, they are leaving very small topsoil islands <br />so it is easy to gauge the depth of topsoil removed and to see that all of the <br />available topsoil has been removed. The roads were all well maintained and well <br />watered to limit the amount of fugitive dust to the extent possible. <br />-There are still the piles of topsoil that were hauled to the East pit that were to be <br />spread last year. These piles are beginning to grow weeds and must be spread on <br />the regraded areas and reseeded this year. <br />General Mine Plan Compliance: -The 101 dragline is in the East Pit performing <br />reclamation. The 102 dragline was working on reclamation in the west pit. The 103 <br />dragline was removing overburden on the B-Seam. The 102 draglines will be down <br />soon for service on the lines. <br />-The 1 14 shovel operation was currently working on removing the X-Seam <br />overburden. <br />-The operator was dumping overburden in the mid-pit area of the West Pit. <br />- The mining at the Colowyo Mine appears to be progressing as discussed and <br />approved in the PAP. <br />Air Resource Protection: -All of the areas of the current Colowyo Mine were well <br />compacted and stable at the time of the inspection. It was, however, very hot and <br />dry so there was some fugitive dust. The operator was actively watering the roads to <br />limit the fugitive dust to the extent possible. There were also no problems with fugitive <br />dust at the coal stockpile at the Gossard Loadout. <br />-The Bower project was actively watering their area and also limiting the fugitive dust <br />to the extent possible. <br />- There was, however, a problem with fugitive dust at the Kiewit project. They were <br />operating above and adjacent to the area where Bower was removing topsoil. <br />There operation included the loading of approximately 40 ton Volvo articulated <br />trucks. As the trucks entered and left the loading area they caused billowing plumes <br />of dust. This caused a safety, health and environmental problem. Tony Tennyson <br />immediately contacted the Kiewit foreman at the location and told him that they <br />needed to begin watering and slow down their operations to limit the dust. At 6:30 <br />the following morning the superintendent for Kiewit, Tay Tono~i, Alan Jorgenson and I <br />all met regarding this issue. <br />