2008-06-06_INSPECTION - C1996083 (2)

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M. 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. The west side of the rail line bench also was stable. The bench outslope was well vegetated. The french drains were in place and a small flow of water was coming out of one of the culverts. No problems were observed at the east end of the rail line bench as well. Main Mine Site The utility bench appeared to be stable. The berm was in place at the front of the bench while the ditch to the rear of the bench had sufficient capacity. The rock catchment berm above and behind the bench was functional. The topsoil stockpile on the west end of the bench had a moderate cover of vegetation. The topsoil sign was up. The road up to the utility bench was in good condition. The slide between the road and the utility bench seems to have stabilized but needs to be backfilled nonetheless. Culverts and ditches in this area were operational. There was only a very small amount of coal stockpiled on the D-seam portal bench. The bench's outside berm was in place. Culverts and ditches at this level were all functional, although the inlet to the culvertjust below the mine office needs cleaning. The material storage areas were orderly. No problems were noted at the cap and powder houses. The cut and fill slopes were well vegetated and stable. The operator has installed equipment on the B-seam portal bench so that nitrogen can be drawn out of the air, concentrated and pumped into the mine workings behind the panel seals in order to avoid any explosive conditions inside the sealed panels. The slide in the cut slope above the B-seam portal bench appears to have stabilized. The operator has plans for relocating the segment of haul road above this slide but will not proceed at this time. Across the haul road from this portal bench is the excess material storage stockpile. There were no signs of erosion or slope instability with the stockpile. Culverts and ditches in this area were operational. The main topsoil stockpile had a very good cover of vegetation, although some whitetop was growing on the stockpile. The operator, however, is currently conducting noxious weed spraying operations. The material storage area adjacent to the topsoil stockpile was well organized. The small slide above the wash plant has been backfilled. The repair looks very good. The wash plant has not been operating recently. The culverts and ditches in this area were operational, although the culvert inlet next to the waste rock loading bin needs two rocks moved out of the way. At the mine entrance area, the culverts and ditches that lead to pond B had sufficient capacity. There was a small amount of standing water in pond B. There was no coal at the coal stockpile next to the highway. There were no indications of fugitive dust going offsite or coal dust being tracked onto the highway. Records The required mine records were at the mine office, as documented in the attached records checklist. c:/word/bowie2/insp0608 c??