2008-07-18_INSPECTION - C1996083

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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 partial inspection conducted by Joe Dudash of the Colorado DRMS. Bill Bear represented Bowie Resources during the inspection. The weather was hot and dry although an occasional rain has occurred in recent days. The longwall is in the process of being moved. Hubbard Creek Vent Shaft The drilling of the vent shaft is progressing. A total of about 500 feet of shaft needs to be drilled and the contractor has drilled about 200 feet to date. Once the shaft drilling has been completed, the steel liner will be installed. The orderliness and cleanliness of the operation is impressive. The twelve foot diameter drill bit and drill pipe are supported by a very large, heavy duty derrick with a large block and tackle. The drilling fluid coming out of the drill hole is fed through a rock separator and, then, pumped to the large mud pit. The mud pit water, after settling, is fed back to the drill hole. The rock that is separated from the drilling mud is loaded into a haul truck for disposal on the gob pile. The entire operation is very clean and compact. The mud pit is completely fenced in. A little mud pit water was seeping out of the mud pit so the contractor set up a small sump in the road ditch below the mud pit and was pumping the mud pit water back into the mud pit. The operator had put bentonite into the mud pit to seal the pit from any leakage. The sediment control for the vent shaft construction pad was in place. Silt fence was up at the base of the raised pad and between the road and the creek. Straw bales also were in place in road ditches. The road was dry and in good condition. The upland diversion ditch had sufficient capacity. The riprap was in place on the steep portion of the upland diversion ditch. The fuel tank was contained in the containment pan. Surface disturbance markers were up around the disturbed area. However, the mine ID signs need to be put back on their posts. Stream buffer zone signs were up between the road and the creek. Several sections of the steel liner for the vent shaft were at the laydown area. The straw bales were in place as the sediment control for that area. Coal Waste Stockpiles The operator has begun topsoil removal on the west side of the new coal waste stockpile no. 3. Silt fence was up as the sediment control during initial construction. Surface disturbance markers were also up. The topsoil was hauled to the loadout topsoil stockpile. Silt fence was up at the topsoil stockpile site as well. The operator has also reconfigured pond J. The east side was deepened and the west side was filled in, as designed. There was no activity on the main coal waste pile. The pile was dry and had positive drainage. The coal pile has reached nearly to the elevation of the upland diversion ditch. Some of the coal waste is a little too close to the upland diversion ditch and should be pulled back. The entire upland diversion ditch was walked and there were no problems with capacity. There were some thistle plants growing on the pile. The operator has sprayed for thistle but scattered patches still exist. Surface disturbance markers were up around the disturbed area. The haul road to the main coal waste pile was in good condition. There was water in pond C and pond D, near the level of the primary discharge pipes. The operator is planning on cleaning out pond C soon. There was only a little water in pond F. c:/word/bowie2/insp0708