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BOWIE RESOURCES, LLC <br />Bowie No. 2 Mine <br />Coal Mine Waste Bank Nos. 1, 2 & 4 Inspections -1St Quarter 2008 <br />On April 7, 2008, I performed a visual inspection of the Bowie No. 2 Mine coal mine waste banks <br />in accordance with Rule 4.10.2. This inspection includes Gob Pile Nos. 1, 2 and 4. <br />I, J. E. Stover, P.E., have a wide variety of experience in the design and construction of earth fill <br />embankments. Nothing was observed during the inspections that would indicate the piles have <br />a potential for failure. The gob disposal areas were damp to wet. All organic material and <br />topsoil has been removed ahead of the waste bank foundings. The upper diversion ditches <br />were inspected with no problems noted. Coal mine waste was temporarily stacked on the upper <br />section and eastern side of gob pile no. 2. As weather allows, this material will need to be re- <br />handled, placed and compacted. <br />The rock drain for Gob Pile No. 1 was extended during the quarter. A rock drain is not required <br />at gob pile no. 4. A significant amount of the gob pile no. 2 was covered with three feet of cover <br />and one foot of topsoil during the 4th quarter 2006. Most of the first and second benches were <br />covered. Cover material from gob pile no. 4 is being stockpiled on the west side of pile no. 2. <br />Most of the coal mine waste was generated from the preparation plant. Approximately 63,000 <br />tons of gob were hauled to the gob piles. Coal mine waste is to be placed in the pile in <br />approximately horizontal lifts no more than 24-inches thick. The coal mine waste is spread and <br />compactive effort is provided by a self propelled sheepsfoot compactor. Compaction tests were <br />performed during the quarter. A total of twenty-eight compaction tests were taken on the piles <br />on nine separate occasions. One of the tests failed twice. The areas where the test failed was <br />reworked. The reworked area was retested twice and passed the second time. Two other tests <br />failed on March 19th and those areas were not reworked and tested before the end of the <br />quarter. A test passes if the test attains at least 90%of the maximum dry density attained in a <br />laboratory compaction test in accordance with ASTM D698. Relative compaction test results are <br />enclosed. <br />A failure of the gob pile no. 1 vwuld probably not be a hazard to human life. The pile is located <br />above a large flat bench. The bench is approximately 80 to 150-feet wide directly below the pile. <br />Additionally, the gob pile sediment pond is located belowthe pile. If the coal mine waste bank <br />failed, the material would very likely be contained on the bench belowthe pile and orwithin the <br />gob pile sediment pond. <br />A failure of the gob piles no. 2 and 4 would probably not be a hazard to human life. A residential <br />dwelling is located over 300-feet below pile no. 2. The piles are located above Bowie Road. A <br />failure of the piles might damage Bowie Road but would not likely impact the residential dwelling. <br />Except as noted above with regard to gob stacked on gob pile No. 2, I certa~:thk~~~ie best of <br />my knowledge and belief, that the fill and other aspects of the coal mine;,~ua`~t~~~b '4~~,~ye been <br />r `~ <br />constructed as permitted in the design approved by the DRMS. ~,~Cti~a°~ 3~'T°°om • <br />btg a 4.` .COs <br />0 0 <br />• <br />M <br />James E. Stovef-'0 "° ~'~~ jo$ ~~ate <br />P.E. No. 19230 ~~'.~~~~~~~ ~,~~~~~.®~A <br />®owvad <br />