INSPEC39070

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 10/23/2006
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Colov~ryo C-1981-019
23 October 2006 ~-
Pg 2/7
Roads (cont.): -The light-use roads around the Gossard Loadout and to the rail loop
were well maintained and in good condition.
-The roads to and around the Section 16 Pit and pond were not accessible at the
time of the inspection.
-The roads in the West Pit for access to the highwall miner and Bower project were all
well maintained and appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. These
roads run along the west edge of the West Pit and up to the top of the section 16 Pit
on the west side. No erosional problems were noted on these roads at the time of
the inspection.
Hydrologic Balance: - In Section 4 of the West Pit, where the highwall miner began
operating, there was a very large impoundment of water due to the large amount of
precipitation the mine has received in the last few months. This impounded water
completely covers the coal stockpile from the highwall miner at the bottom of the
West Pit. The operator estimates that there is up to 14 million gallons of water
currently in the pit. The operator has acontractor on-site setting up a pumping and
filtration system to remove the water. They will pump water to the top of the pit, into
a 20,000 gallon holding tank (to settle out any sealable solids) then through a packed
sand filtration system to remove the remaining solids. The water will not flow into the
East Taylor Pond prior to being discharged. The discharge pipe has a diffuser and will
be routed into the riprapped outfall for the East Taylor Pond below the flume to
minimize erosion and environmental impact. The operator has also obtained a CDPS
Industrial General Minimal Discharge Permit (MINDI Permit) to discharge the water
directly into Taylor Creek. The MINDI permit is effective for three months and expires
on 12 January 2007 (unless renewed). The operator has submitted Minor Revision 85
to the Division to address this discharge.
-The mine site has received approximately six inches of precipitation in the last two
months (since September).
-The Section 16 Pond (NPDES 009A) was inaccessible at the time of the inspection
due to mud.
-The wash bay pond (not a NPDES discharge point) contained water approximately
two feet below the top of the embankment and was not discharging. This is a total
containment pond and discharge into the Work Area Pond triggers BTEX testing (in
addition to regular NPDES testing). Tony indicated that this pond has not discharged
into the Work Area Pond. The water from this pond is used for watering the roads.
The pond embankment was well vegetated and appeared stable at the time of the
inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the pond embankment at the time
of the inspection.
- The work area pond (NPDES 002A) contained water approximately one foot below
the top of the discharge pipe and was discharging an immeasurable trickle through
the weep-hole. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable at the time
of the inspection. This pond is scheduled to be cleaned this fall (a contractor was
currently on site cleaning ponds}.