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<br />July 16, 2001 <br />Westem Fuels-Colorado <br />P.O. Box 628 <br />Nucla, CO 81424 <br />New Horizon Mine #1 & #2 <br />Complete, oversight inspection <br />July 12, 2001 <br />Participants: <br />Ross Gubka P.E., Western Fuels <br />Harry Ranney, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) <br />Howard Strand, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) <br />Henry Austin, OSM <br />I participated in a complete, oversight inspection of the New Horizon #1 and #2 Mine on July 12, 2001, <br />with the above participants. This site was selected by the DMG / OSM Oversight Team to be inspected <br />during the 2001 evaluation year. The primary focus of the inspection was to evaluate off site impacts at <br />the site. Weather conditions were hot with localized thunderstorms in the area, however, site conditions <br />were dry in all areas inspected. <br />We began at the #1 Mine which is completely reclaimed, and the permittee intends to apply for Phase II <br />and Phase III bond release on the Mine #1 reclamation areas this year. Stops and observations at <br />Mine #1 included the following: Rice Tract where soil and vegetation conditions were extremely dry, <br />and we also observed the spring area. There are pre-law lands associated with the reclaimed areas at <br />Mine #1 and we inspected Pond 1 which was well stabilized and located in a good area to be used as <br />a permanent impoundment. Pond 1 has essentially a constant discharge with seasonal variations. No <br />compliance problems have been noted at Pond I.We next inspected Pond 6, that also will be utilized as a <br />permanent impoundment. No problems were noted at these Ponds. Pond 5 was inspected next and this <br />pond will be removed upon bond release. Ponds 2 and 4 were completely dry and will also be removed. <br />The former Pond 3 area now acts as an SAE, and this area was well maintained with no problems noted. <br />This concluded the Mine I inspection. <br />We moved to Mine #2 and began the inspection at the highwall /topsoil removal area of the current <br />active pit. Topsoil removal was completed as required ahead of the active pit areas and removal was <br />well organized. The active pit /sump water was being pumped to pond 7 and this process was also well <br />organized. Pit coal was being loaded and dozers were grading on the spoil side of the pit during the <br />inspection. Grading is as current as possible for this type operation and topsoil replacement /seeding is <br />extremely contemporaneous and efficient. Direct haulage of topsoil is also being utilized. We inspected <br />the recently completed new pond 8 which is designed to fully contain the 25 year precipitation event and <br />also was constructed with the intention of remaining as a permanent impoundment at the landowners <br />request. The pond is well constructed and located. <br />