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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 />This was a complete inspection conducted by Kent Gorham of the Colorado Division of <br />Minerals and Geology (Division). This former mountaintop removal operation is now <br />reclaimed and has achieved a Phase I bond release for most areas. Ground conditions on <br />this day were dry and the weather was warm. Ron Thompson of Peak Project Management <br />represented Lorencito Coal Company on this day. <br />Availability of Records <br />The public copy of the mine records is kept at the office of Peak Project Management (PPM), <br />The contact, address, and phone number for PPM is Ron Thompson, Peak Project <br />Management, 34115 County Road 20.8, Trinidad, CO 81082, 719-846-4975. Records were <br />found in compliance as detailed on page 2a of this report. <br />Roads <br />Gravel mining by others is underway along the access road to the site. These operations are <br />now using the coal loadout area of the mine for storage. If gravel operations plan to use <br />these areas long-term, the post-mining land use for the loadout should be changed to <br />industrial. Mr. Thompson indicated the operators desire to change the land use to industrial <br />for the loadout, office area, service area, and road leading to the disturbed area of the mine. <br />By far, the majority of vehicle traffic now occurring at the site is for coal bed methane <br />extraction, gravel mining, and timber operations. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />All ponds contained a moderate amount of water due to recent storm runoff. None of the <br />ponds were discharging although given the water level in the ponds, discharge was likely in <br />the recent past. The sediment marker remains to be re-installed in pond 9. Vegetation was <br />good to excellent on all pond embankments. <br />Perimeter containment ditches appeared in functional condition. Changes in the drainage on <br />the north side of the disturbed area appear to have increased water in pond 8 and reduced <br />flows to pond 9. Pond 8 has a larger capacity for water storage and treatment than pond 9. <br />Topsoil <br />The large topsoil pile at the loadout area has been regraded and reshaped on the north side. <br />While some of this material belongs to the landowner, the southern half of this pile is for coal <br />reclamation operations. A few small topsoil piles have been deposited on the disturbed area <br />but have yet to be respread. Topsoil operations from the approved borrow area in Jeff <br />Canyon have been suspended until fall. <br />3 <br />