2008-03-04_INSPECTION - C1981019

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Colowyo C-1981-019 26 February 2008~~ Pg 2/6 Roads (cont.): -The haul roads in the Bower project area (topsoil removal) are well maintained and appear to be stable. These roads are in the Taylor Draw and along the west edge of the Section 16 Pit. There is also a haul road that was constructed just south of the Existing Section 16 Pit. This road is for continued topsoil removal operations in ad~~ance of the mining in the South Taylor area (the box-cut area). These roads were wet and muddy in some areas. The roads were well maintained and appeared t~~ be stable at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted on tfie roads. -The haul roads in the Anson project area (topsoil removal) were wet and muddy but appeared to be stable. The Anson topsoil removal is in the bottom of Taylor draw in the area of the East Taylor Fill. The lower-most portion of the Anson haul road was very muddy with difficult conditions. The articulated trucks were sliding and pushing through up to four inches of mud. These poor conditions were due to melting snow running down into the work area. -The light-use roads in the East Pit reclamation area were all more or less inaccessible due to snow. - The Sturgeon road (which is the access road for the Section 21 and Section 28 Ponds) was very wet and muddy at the time of the inspection. This road has seen considerable usE~ this winter and it is in pretty poor shape. Once conditions improve (after runoff is complete) the road will need to be bladed again and the Missouri crossings will need to be reestablished. At that time the gravel surface will need to be placed on th~~ road (as all planned construction in the draw is complete). Hydrologic Balance: -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 partially coverecl 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 K~ond (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 th~° 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 anct 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. The sump at the inlet of the pond seems to be functioning as dE~signed, as it has trapped a fair amount of sediment (coal fines).