Laserfiche WebLink
A Phase I Bond Release Inspection of both the 720 Pit and Pit 1 areas was conducted on <br />May 12, 1994. Present at the inspection were representatives of Kerr Coal Company <br />(pennittee and landowners), the Colorado Board of State Land Commissioners (landowner), <br />the U. S. Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management (landowner), the U.S. <br />Department of Interior-Office of Surface Mining (OSM), and the DMG. <br />Concerns identified by DMG and OSM during the May 12, 1994, inspection resulted in <br />Kerr Coal Company revising its permit with regard to its approved reclamation plans, and <br />implementing those revised plans during the course of 1995. Technical Revision TR-12, <br />complete on September 14, 1994 and approved on May 15, 1995, addressed modifications <br />to the reclamation plans for the 720 Pit. Technical Revision TR-13, complete on <br />February 8, 1995, and approved on April 25, 1995, addressed modifications to the <br />reclamation plans for Pit 1. <br />The DMG conducted afollow-up bond release inspection at the 720 Pit on June 5, 1995. A <br />decision proposing to approve a Phase I Bond Release for the 720 Pit was issued on <br />June 13, 1995. The DMG conducted follow-up bond release inspections at Pit 1 on <br />November 14, 1995, and December 11, 1995. The decisions regarding the Phase I bond <br />release request for Pit 1 are enclosed herein. <br />V. Observations <br />A. November 14, 1995 Pit 1 Inspection <br />Present at this inspection were representatives of DMG, OSM, and Kerr Coal <br />Company. Representatives from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management had informed <br />DMG prior to the inspection that they would not be able to attend. <br />1. Slope Gradients <br />The grades of the east-, west-, and north-facing slopes of the reclaimed basin of <br />Pit 1 were measured with an Abney level, a Brunton compass, and two five-foot <br />staffs. Measurements were taken by two DMG representatives, with one standing <br />approximately 'k up the slope length from the bottom of the slope, and the other <br />standing approximately 'k up the slope length from the bottom of the slope, <br />forming a "station." The value of the slope at each of these "stations" was derived <br />by averaging the upslope and downslope readings. Distance between the two <br />representatives up and down the slope was maintained at approximately 100 feet. <br />Distance between "stations" along the contour of the slope was maintained at <br />approximately 300 feet. <br />The approved reclamation grade for all Pit 1 slopes is 33% (3H:1V or 18.43°). <br />The six slope grade.values obtained for the west-facing inslope of Pit 1 were <br />19.4% (11°), 19.0% (10.8°), 29.6% (16.5°), 26.9% (15.1°), 28.9% (16.1°), and <br />21.6% (12.2°). The two values obtained for the north-facing inslope of Pit 1 were <br />21.9% (12.4°) and 21.6% (12.2°). The three values obtained for the west-facing <br />inslope were 28.3% (15.8°), 31.3% (17.4°), and 27.6% (15.4°). The east-facing <br />outslope of Pit 1 was measured at 37.2% (20.4°), and was identified by DMG as <br />-3- <br />