_INSPECTION - C1996083 (40) - Laserfiche WebLink

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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. This was a complete inspection conducted by Joe Dudash and Marcia Talvitie of the Colorado DRMS. Bill Bear represented the operator during the field inspection and the records check. Currently,the longwall panel has been idled until the continuous miners can finish the development mining.A lot of snow has melted off since the last inspection two weeks ago. However,a fair amount of snow still remains in areas. Main Mine Site Most of the snow had melted off of the south-facing slopes. The operator had finished removing soil material from the slide just above the B-seam portal bench and just below a section of the haul road. The remaining slope has been stabilized and the portal entry structure has been repaired.The operator is planning to relocate the section of the haul road above the slide and grade the B-seam portal bench cut slope back to a lesser angle.Due to the recent heavy snow melt,the small slide in the cut slope above the wash plant has enlarged. The operator has sectioned off the immediate area and will work on repairs. The slide in the bottom area of the utility bench outslope has been stable for some time now but repairs have been put on hold for dryer weather.Just to the west of this slide,there appears to be a head scarp forming in the cut slope above the road that leads to the utility bench. This site will need to be watched.The remaining cut and fill slopes of the benches appeared to be stable. The rock catchment berm above the utility bench was functional.The ditch to the back of the utility bench had sufficient capacity and the bench's outside berm was in place.There were no problems with any of the facilities on the D-seam portal bench. The operator was doing routine maintenance work on some of the equipment. There were no fuel leaks at the fuel barn. The material storage areas were well organized. Some of the culverts, as well as some sections of the ditches, in the area were covered in snow but all appeared to be functional.There was only a moderate volume of coal stockpiled on this bench. Surface disturbance markers were up. No problems were observed with the facilities on the B-seam portal bench.The sediment control system was in place. Across the road,the B-seam portal bench excess material storage area was used to store the soil material from the slide above the B-seam bench.The excess material storage area was stable. The north side of the main topsoil stockpile was covered in snow but the south side was clear of snow and had a good vegetative cover.Topsoil signs were up and the collection and diversion ditches/berms were functional. No problems were noted at the wash plant.The culverts and ditches in this area were functioning properly.New straw bales had been installed at the entrance to the mine site.New straw bales will be needed somewhat soon at the inlets of the down drains at the coal stockpile bench next to the highway. Only a moderate volume of coal was stockpiled on the coal stockpile bench. Pond B had recently been discharged. The pond embankment was stable and the pond spillways were functional.Mine ID signs were up at the entrance. Coal Waste(Gob) Stockpiles The haul road leading to the gob piles was wet but passable up to the gob piles. The operator was cleaning road ditches on the gob pile so the rest of the inspection of the gob piles was on foot.The gob piles were mostly free of snow. The outslopes of the gob piles appeared to be stable. There were no observations of erosional gullying or slope instability with the gob piles.There was positive drainage on the gob piles, except for a very minor ponding of water in one small area on the extreme east end of the gob pile area. Collection ditches and culverts were handling the snowmelt water very well. The upland diversion ditch was functional. Surface disturbance markers were up around the disturbed area.Pond F had a little water in it,about 6 feet below the emergency spillway level.The pond pump was in place. 1