_INSPECTION - C1982057 ‎(48)‎

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 2/8/2008
• 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.
General Comments
This was a partial site inspection of the Seneca II-W Mine, conducted by Dan Mathews of the DRMS Grand
Junction office, accompanied by Roy Karo, Seneca Coal Company(SCC) Reclamation Manager. Weather was
cloudy and cool, with six inches or more of fresh snow and recent drifting in some areas from snowfall and wind
the previous night. There is significant, solid snow cover throughout the mine area and the larger region of
northwest Colorado. The only accessible portions of the mine permit at this time are the Tie Across Haul Road,
and the Mine Entrance Haul Road up to the shop area. Drifts had blocked the entrance road overnight, but the
operator opened up the road with a D-8 dozer prior to the inspection. Work was in progress to clear drifts in and
adjacent to the shop area during the inspection. The oil well operator was working during the inspection to open
up the Oil Well Access Road, which had also drifted over.
Small groups of mule deer and elk were observed, mostly bedded or feeding in tall shrub habitat along south and
west facing hillslopes adjacent to the county road and the Mine Entrance Road. A rancher has been feeding hay
to his cattle in a pasture near the lower end of the Mine Entrance Road, and the deer and elk have been feeding
on the hay as well. Sagebrush and other low shrubs, as well as grass forage, are under deep snow cover in the
mine vicinity.
The snow cover prevented access to most areas. There is deep snow cover in all areas, except limited areas
along higher ridgelines where much of the snow has been blown off(observed in recent aerial photos of the
site). Deep drifting and cornice formation was apparent on the lee side of the major ridgelines, both in the permit
area(noted in aerial photos), and along the ridge west of the county road on the drive out the mine. The heavy
snow cover will benefit recent seedings and plantings in the spring, but will also increase the potential for erosion
and slope instability, particularly on steep slopes below areas of major drift accumulation.
Aspen Study
Prior to the inspection, Dr. Robert Musselman of the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
(RMRS), presented a Power-Point presentation summarizing the recently completed 3 year aspen establishment
study conducted by RMRS at the Seneca II-W Mine. The study was partially funded through an Office of
Surface Mining (OSM)research program, and partially funded and supported by Seneca Coal Company(SCC).
The final written report had been previously submitted. Study results indicate that initial establishment of aspen
can be achieved on reclaimed mine spoils, using on-site sapling transplants. Results were less definitive for
commercial transplants and volunteer root sprouts. Soil factors and soil handling/tree removal practices,
protection of saplings from browsing, and control of competing vegetation, were shown to be significant factors
affecting survival and growth. Irrigation was not shown to be a significant factor during the study, but the
researchers speculate that use of high quality(low salinity) irrigation water may be critical to sapling survival if
abnormally dry conditions occur during establishment.
Findings of the study have applicability to future aspen establishment research and operational practices in the
region. Seneca Coal Company is supporting additional research in cooperation with RMRS at both their Seneca
II-W and Yoast Mines, in attempt to build on the findings of the initial study, and to identify strategies for aspen
reestablishment that are practicable on an operational scale. Roy Karo will discuss the aspen study and other
aspects of SCC's reclamation program in a presentation at the annual High Altitude Revegetation Conference in
Fort Collins, in March. Seneca Coal Company's on-going participation in and support for the aspen
establishment research is commendable.
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