2008-03-04_INSPECTION - C1981019

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Colowyo C-1981-019 26 February 2008 ~~ Pg 4/6 Hydrologic Balaince (cont.): -The Section 28 Pond was dry at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was covered with snow but appeared to be stable. The pone embankment has been seeded (this past fall). No erosional problems were noted on the pond embankment at the time of the inspection. - All of the sumps (sumps 1-5) along the road in Taylor Draw were inaccessible due to snow at the time> of the inspection. -All of the roadside ditches were covered with snow but appeared to be stable and in good condition. There were no erosional problems noted in any of the ditches at the time of the inspection. Backfilling and Grading: -The reclamation and backfilling operations in the East Pit were inaccessible at the time of the inspection due to snow. The 101 dragline was sitting on the East Pit highwall at the time of the inspection. It was operating on 26 February 2008 but not on 27 February 2008. -The top of the \Nest Pit overburden stockpile still needs to be removed to the new approved elevation as permitted in Technical Revision 63. Support Facilitie:~: -The facilities area was in good condition at the time of the inspection. No ~>roblems were noted with the area. -The Gossard Loadout was wet and muddy but appeared to be stable and in good condition at the time of the inspection. No fugitive dust coming from the coal stockpiles or stacker tube at the time of the inspection. Topsoil: -The opE~rator, through the contractor Bower Brothers, was removing topsoil from the box cui area of the South Taylor Pit. They have completed topsoil removal from the X-Pod cirea just south of the Section 16 Pit (as approved through Technical Revision 65). They topsoil is being stockpiled in a new pile just south of the West Pit (west of the Seciion 16 Pit) and next to the pile above the East Pit highwall. One concern with reroving topsoil at this point in the year is that the conditions will damage either the chemical or physical properties of the topsoil (or both). Although it was wet and muddy in many places on the mine, the topsoil looked good at this point (it was not wet and muddy). The contractor was dumping the topsoil and pushing it with a dozer to complete the stockpile. It appears as though the operator is not overloading the trucks any more (as was noted in last month's inspection report). All of thE~ activity in the Bower Work area appears to be progressing nicely and in accordance with the approved operations plan and the Rules. **See pictures at the end of this report** - Anson (who constructed the West Taylor and Section 28 Ponds) was also stripping topsoil. They weire currently stripping topsoil from the underdrain area of the East Taylor Fill. The side slopes of the East Taylor Fill area were already stripped by Bower. Anson was hauling and stockpiling the topsoil in a separate pile next to the Bower pile (for payment purposes). This topsoil was also dry and appeared to be preserving the integrity of the resource. **See pictures at the end of this report**