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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The commenh include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts of evidence supporting the enforcement action. Carry-over Items of concern: None. AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS Colowyo is currently changing their filing system. A number of files were checked during this inspection. All were found to be in compliance with the Rules. ROADS The paved haul road was in excellent shape. The light use road to the West Pit Pond and the East Taylor Pond had been recently graded. HYDROLOGIC BALANCE There were small patches of snow about the site. The higher elevations were still covered with snow. There was a small amount of surface drainage that was flowing into the pits. No surface runoff was noted that flowed to sedimentation ponds. The only pond with discharge was Streeter Pond (Discharge Point 001). Discharge was measured (flume) as 0.12 cubic feet per second. The entrance sedimentation cell of the West Pit Pond had been cleaned. The water level in this pond was approximately 7 feet below the primary spillway weep hole. Water in the East Taylor Pond (Discharge Point 010) was muddy. The level was approximately 6 feet below the primary spillway weep hole. The Gossard Rail Loop Pond (Discharge Point 006) had been cleaned. The level of water in this pond was estimated at 4 feet below the trickle-tube spillway. The Stoker Ditch in the vicinity of the coal stockpile was inspected and found to be in good repair. The West Pit Coal Road Ditch was inspected and found to be in good repair. The north end of the Streeter Gulch Ditch, between stations 4500 and 7500 was inspected and found to be in good repair. Inter-burden/overburden fill was being placed at the west end of the East Pit to provide a working platform for highwall mining operations (coal loading) above water that had collected in the pit. The highwall miner was located just east of the fill operations. Pictures were taken A digital copy of these pictures will be transmitted to the operator, and copies placed on file at the Division. BACKFILL & GRADING No grading was noted. Truck backfill was being taken from the West Pit and placed in the East Pit. Back-casting by two draglines was underway in the West Pit. GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE Operations were in compliance with the general mine plan. Highwall mining was underway in the East Pit. Multi-seam surface mining was underway in the West Pit. There was no activity in the Section 16 Pit. Coal extraction (surface in the West Pit and highwall in the East Pit), crushing, hauling and stockpiling at the rail loadout was underway. There was no train loadout during the inspection. Other support activities, such as drilling, blasting, facilities maintenance, office and staff support, etc., were ongoing. FISH & WILDLIFE Over a hundred deer and over 200 elk were seen on site, both in undisturbed and reclaimed areas. Numerous ducks were observed on ponds, and a Bald eagle was seen hunting over the site. EXCESS SPOIL & DEVELOPMENT WASTE No excess spoil was observed being placed in the West Pit Spoil Fill. SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF MINING Highwall mining was underway in the East Pit. The west-to-east progression ofsouth-directed entries continues. Entries were being covered in accordance with the permit. See report entries above for additional information. C-81-019. Pa~e ,7 of c-~ Panes. Date C ~~s o ~( .Initials -~-~"