_INSPECTION - C1980004 ‎(15)‎

• Permit No: C1980004
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 1/15/2008
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Ill. 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.
General Comments
This was a partial inspection of the mine surface facility areas. One purpose of the inspection was to observe
the site of the planned coal mine waste disposal area and related facilities (ditches, sediment pond, topsoil and
cover soil stockpiles), proposed in TR-16, which is currently under review. The project would entail
approximately 4.75 acres of additional surface disturbance, including some new disturbance along the steep
juniper woodland slope to the south of the existing soil stockpiles, as well as additional disturbance to the
sagebrush/greasewood flats extending southwest from the existing stockpiles, to the vicinity of the confluence of
McClane Creek and East Salt Creek. Two representatives from the BLM Grand Junction Field Office(Scott
Gerwe and Janny Choy) participated in this part of the inspection, as did Jim Stover, engineering consultant to
the operator, in addition to Mike Boulay and myself, from the Division's Grand Junction office.
In addition to the TR-16 proposed permanent waste disposal site, the BLM representatives needed to see the
existing sediment storage area adjacent to the sediment pond, which is being used for temporary storage of coal
mine waste until the permanent disposal site is approved. The temporary storage pile is filled to capacity, and
the Division had recently approved Minor Revision No. 44 to allow for a 0.1 acre expansion of disturbed area
associated with the temporary storage pile. Operator is awaiting BLM authorization before implementing the
storage area expansion. Scott Gerwe said that he thought a BLM letter of concurrence would be issued within a
week for MR-44; BLM may require the operator to obtain a wood harvest permit, as the approved expansion will
require the removal of approximately 25 juniper trees.
Weather was clear and cool, non traffic areas were under a solid 6"to 12"snow cover, which made detailed
observations difficult.
Following the joint BLM/DRMS inspection of the sediment drying area and proposed TR-16 disturbance area,
Mike Boulay and I continued our inspection of remaining facility areas at the mine. The coal conveyor and
crusher at the portal area was not operating during the inspection, but trucks were being loaded out from the
stockpile in the coal storage area. Mike will be assuming lead inspection and review responsibilities for the mine
in February.
Signs and Markers
The sign had been replaced as requested since the previous site inspection; McClane Canyon Mining LLC is
now correctly listed as the permittee.
Roads and Hydrologic Balance
Ditches were snowed in and culvert inlet sumps iced over in various locations. Diversion culverts in the portal
area appeared to be properly functional. The sediment pond was iced over and snow covered. Maintenance of
road ditches will be warranted as thaw progresses, to ensure that melt water is properly routed to and along the
ditches. SAE silt fences and berms appeared to be intact and functional, although deep snow in some areas
made detailed observations difficult.
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