2001-11-30_INSPECTION - C1981022

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Elk Creek C-1981-022 26 November 2007 P9 2/5 Hydrologic Balance: - Pond A contained a small pool of water approximately and was not discharging at the tirne of the inspection. The pond is an incised pond and was just cleaned. The pond was stable at the time of the inspection. - Pond B contained water approximately four feet below the emergency spillway at the time of the inspection but was not discharging (discharge is through a gated valve below the water level). The embankmE~nt was well vegetated and appeared to be stable. No erosional problems were noted on the pond embankment. The emergency spillway was stable at the time of the inspection. - Pond C is a concrete dam below the West Valley Fill. The dam appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. The pond contained a small amount of water but was not discharging at the time of the inspection. - Pond D contained water approximately two feet below the top of the primary discharge pipe and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the pond embankmE~nt. This pond was drained and cleaned in late summer. - The East Yard Pond has been cleaned of material placed there from the pond cleaning (approximately half of the pond area was covered to a depth of approximately two feet). This material was removed from the pond and hauled to the West Valley fill. The pond was dry at the time of the inspection. The pond appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the pond at the time of the inspection. - Pond E is a concrete dam below the II-West Valley Fill. The concrete embankment was stable at the time of the inspection. The pond contained a small pool of water at the time of the inspection but was not discharging. - Pond F contained a small amount of water but was not discharging at the time of the inspection, The pond embankment was well vegetated and there were no erosional problems noted. - The ditches along the haul road to the Elk Creek facilities area appeared to be stable and functioning as designed. No erosional problems were noted in any of the ditches. - The aci-ive drill pads that were inspected during the inspection (GVB-10-01 and exploration sites 05-24 and 06-30) all appeared to be controlling the runoff properly. The pads were generally bermed and they appeared to be graded slightly to the mud pit. No erosional problems were noted on any of the active drill pads. Backfilling and Grading: -The backfilled Sanborn Creek portal remains stable. There are no signs of settling or cracking at the backfilled portal location. No erosional problems were noted at the portal location at the time of the inspection. The portal area has minimal vegetation but, as stated, there have been no erosional problems. Explosives: -The explosives magazines were in place just below Pond D and the elevated conveyor from Elk Creek portals to the coal stockpile at the time of the inspection. The small pad where the magazines are located was stable and in good condition at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the explosives magazine pad at the time of the inspection. Processirug Waste: -The West Valley Fill was well maintained and stable at the time of the inspection. There was no water pooling on the pile. The operator hauled most of the pond cleaning raterial from the East Yard Pond to the pile. This material still needs to be spread. OMLLC is reminded that the maximum lift height for spreading and compacting is two feet.