_INSPECTION - C1981019 ‎(31)‎

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 1/22/2008
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Colowyo C-1981-019
22 January 2008�
Pg 2/6
Roads (cont.): - The Sturgeon road (which is the access road for the Section 21 and
Section 28 Ponds) has been hard-bladed and the Missouri crossings have been
constructed. The operator has planned on placing the gravel surface on the road
after the construction of the Section 28 Pond is complete. Since we are now in full-
blown wither conditions, it is expected that this surface will be placed on the road in
late spring or early summer, as conditions permit. The road was covered with snow
and ice at the time of the inspection but it appeared to be stable and well
maintained. No erosional problems were noted on the road at the time of the
inspection.
Hydrologic Balance: - As a general note, given the extremely cold conditions in the
area of the Colowyo Mine, a similar situation to last year, regarding pond discharges,
may occur at the site this year. Currently, all of the pond surfaces are frozen. If there
is a quick melt and run-off that is too quick to melt the pond surface(s), the water
flowing into the ponds may flow over the frozen surface and directly through the
discharge pipe with little or no treatment, leading to an exceedence in the TSS limit.
- The wash bay pond (not a NPDES discharge point) contained water approximately
two feet below the top of the embankment and was not discharging. This is a total
containment pond and discharge into the Work Area Pond triggers BTEX testing (in
addition to regular NPDES testing). The operator and the contractors use this pond for
water for their water trucks. The pond embankment was covered with snow but
appeared to be well vegetated and stable at the time of the inspection. No
erosional problems were noted on the pond embankment at the time of the
inspection.
- The work area pond (NPDES 002A) contained water approximately one foot below
the top of the discharge pipe and was not discharging at the time of the inspection.
The surface of the pond was frozen. The pond embankment was covered with snow
but it appeared to be well vegetated and stable at the time of the inspection. No
erosional problems were noted on the embankment at the time of the inspection.
- The Gossard Pond (NPDES 003A) contained water approximately three feet below
the riser pipe and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The surface of
the pond was frozen at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was
covered with snow but appeared to be well vegetated and stable at the time of the
inspection. No erosional problems noted on the embankment at the time of the
inspection. The emergency spillway is a 12" culvert. There is sediment in the pond
that will need to be cleaned out. Tony indicated that he was trying to get it set up to
be cleaned. The sump at the inlet of the pond seems to be functioning as designed,
as it has trapped a fair amount of sediment (coal fines).
- The West Pit Pond (NPDES 008A) was inaccessible due to snow at the time of the
inspection.
- The Rail Loop Pond (NPDES 006A) contained water approximately two feet below
the gated pipe and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The surface of
the pond was frozen at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was
covered with snow but appeared to be well vegetated and stable at the time of the
inspection. No erosional problems noted on the embankment.