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INSPECTION REPORT <br />Site: National King Coal Mine, Hesperus, Colorado <br />Inspected By: Don R. May, P.E., Project Engineer <br />Inspection Date: Quarterly Inspection, May 7, 2000 <br />Ponds: The east and west sedimentation ponds and their embankments appear in good <br />condition. The west pond is shown in photograph 1 with standing water from spring <br />runoff. At the staff gage sedimentation has been minimal but infilling near the inlet <br />(upper end of the pond) has occurred. Routine maintenance should be performed ihis <br />summer. The east pond appears in good condition. <br />The swale across the entrance road between the ponds that diverts runoff from the road <br />into the east pond and the lower yard can be seen if photograph 2. Photograph 3 is <br />looking into the east pond. This both the ponds and the ditches in this area are in good <br />condition. <br />Drainage Ditches: The east side and west side drainage channe{s appear in good <br />general condition and have been recently cleaned. The drainage ditch that carries <br />diverted, clear water from near the base of the pile towards the drainage in Hay Gulch is <br />shown in photograph 4. Drainage in the yard appears to be working well as shown in <br />photograph 5. <br />All other ditches and structures were inspected and appear in good operating <br />condition. All drainage features have been constructed and are operating as stated in <br />the drainage plan submitted to the Division of Minerals and Geology. <br />Coal Waste Pile: There are no visible signs of structural instability on the waste pile. <br />Photograph 6 shows a portion of the pile face near the top. As seen the slope on the <br />face formed by newly placed material appears to exceed the design slope of 3:1 <br />(horz:vert). Care should be taken to maintain the design slope of the pile face. In <br />addition, it is important that the waste material be placed in lifts not to exceed 12" to 18" <br />and that compaction results in the density stated in the design report. It is not possible to <br />determine this by visual inspection and therefore the density should be periodically <br />checked by measurement. The highwall and other slopes at the site appear stable. <br />Except for the items mentioned above the fill on the waste pile has been constructed <br />as specified in the design approved by the Division of Minerals and Geology. <br />