_INSPECTION - C1981035 ‎(26)‎

• Permit No: C1981035
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 11/2/2007
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made
during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection
and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action.
This partial inspection of the King Coal Mine was conducted by DRMS staff from the Durango Office,
701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, CO 81301, phone [phone]. Operations were active
during the time of the inspection.
This inspection focused on recent maintenance work completed for portions of the sediment
containment system for the King Coal 1 mine. The sediment containment system appeared to be
functioning as designed; evidence of affected area drainage escaping the area prior to treatment was
not observed. Sediment clean out had recently occurred for the three sediment traps for the mine
entrance road and for the sump located near the outlet of the upland diversion ditch. Six photos
accompany this report.
The large sediment pond appeared damp, no surface water evident. The embankment appeared
sufficiently vegetated to stabilize the surface of the embankment with no evidence of seepage,
slumping or erosion. Primary and secondary spillways appeared clear and functional with no
discharge noted. The large sediment pond receives affected area drainage from the majority of the
yard area, which includes the portal, coal stockpile and processing areas, and refuse disposal pile.
Sediment and water elevations for the large pond are monitored with a PVC indicator rod marked with
red, black and blue tape. As shown in the photo, sediment level in the large pond approaches the
black and blue tape lines.
The small sediment pond appeared damp, no surface water evident. The embankment appeared well
vegetated and stable with no evidence of seepage, slumping or erosion. Primary and secondary
spillways appeared clear and functional with no discharge noted. Affected area drainage is routed
from the lower yard area to the small sediment pond by a sediment containment berm across the
entrance road. Sediment and water elevations for the small pond are monitored with a PVC indicator
rod marked with red and black tape. As shown in the photo, sediment level in the small pond appears
well below the black tape line.
Drainage from the short portion of the mine entrance/haul road located outside of the sediment pond
treatment area is-treated for sediment by three small sediment traps with filter fabric. All three
sediment traps for the entrance road had been recently cleaned of sediment and appeared ready for
spring snow melt.
As shown in the photos, the lower portion of the east upland diversion ditch had been recently cleaned
of sediment. Sediment clean out and grading had been conducted in a manner which minimized
disruption to the protective vegetative cover for the sides of the ditch. The sediment sump for the east
upland diversion ditch had also been recently cleaned of sediment. The sediment sump for the east
diversion ditch is not part of the sediment containment system for affected lands, but provides
sediment containment for the clean water diversion prior to discharge onto neighboring hay fields.
As shown in the photos, evidence of significant sediment deposition to the hay field was not observed.