INSPEC41647

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 9/12/2007
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III. CONIlI~I)rNT5 - COMPLLINCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the
inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or
evidence supporting the enforcement action.
This was a complete inspection of the Seneca II Mine and a full liability bond release
inspection of 259.1 acres of Pre-Law lands located within the Seneca II permit boundary.
The inspection was conducted on September 12, 2007 by Mike Boulay of the Division of
Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Division). Mr. Scott Belden of Peabody Energy
Environmental Services West and Jay James of JEC Inc. accompanied the Division
during the entire inspection. None of the land owners of record attended the inspection;
however, all land owners were notified of the inspection via certified mail. Weather
conditions were sunny and warm, and ground conditions were dry. Following the bond
release inspection, the remainder of the Seneca II Mine was inspected including all roads,
sediment ponds, and facilities areas. No problems were noted at any of these locations.
The availability of records was reviewed at the Seneca Mine office and all required
records were on file and available for review. See the attached records checklist at the
end of this inspection report.
The area (259.1 acres) to which the bond release request applies is located in the northern
end ofthe Permit Area situated in Sections 34 and 35, T6N, R87W, west ofthe 6'h
Principal Meridian. The specific location is shown on Exhibit A of the bond release
application. The Division previously released Phase I liability, which became final in
February 2007, on the adjacent ]ands of the Permit Area that were permitted under the
SMCRA permanent program. During the Phase I bond release inspection conducted in
2006 a problem area within the Pre-Law lands was identified due to erosional instability,
acidic spoil and lack of vegetation. This area is referred to as the Old Wolf Creek Pit
comprising 67.4 acres where additional work is being done to mitigate. the problems. The
Old Wolf Creek Area of the Pre-Law lands is not included with this current bond release
application.
This full liability bond release inspection was conducted pursuant to Seneca Coal
Company's (BCC's) Pre-Law Area Bond Release Application (SL-02) received by the
Division June 28, 2007. The 259.1 acres of reclaimed lands are being requested for full
bond liability release.
During the inspection, participants walked through a large portion of the Pre-Law area
being requested for release, to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent
requirements, including grading, site stability, topsoil replacement (if applicable), and
revegetation. A primazy focus of the inspection was slope stability, erosion in the form
of gullies or rills to the extent that vegetation was inhibited, the presence of bare areas
void of vegetation, and a visual assessment of weeds present. An inclinometer was used
to field check slopes at several locations to get a general indication of the steepness of the
reclaimed area.