_INSPECTION - C1981028 ‎(59)‎

• Permit No: C1981028
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 7/31/2008
• Email Name: JHB
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Ill. 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 an partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDRMS. Dan Kipp and Don MacDonald of Coors Energy
Company accompanied the inspection. The mine no longer extracts coal,but the remaining surface pit(Pit B)is permitted to
dispose of flyash. CEC caps,regrades,topsoils and seeds the pit as the ash fill progresses. The mine site is extremly dry and
hot. The region is experiencing significant deficit of precipitation for the time of year,as well as records for duration of high
temperatures.
Hydrologic Balance:
Two sediment ponds remain on the mine site,sediment pond No. 2 and the dugout pond. Both ponds were dry at the time of
the 'inspection. Vegetation on Pond 2 embankment and at the dugout pond appears good.
66/17
Ground water monitoring well locations were collected using a GeoXT GPS unit.
Roads: Roads are in good shape in the active areas of the mine. A pipeline company was working along the west side of the
mine access road south of the main permit area.
Topsoil: Tosoil/topsand piles remain stable. Vegetative cover on the topsoil piles is very dry. One topsoil pile along the
access road south of the Waste Management turnoff is being disturbed by a third party pipeline construction company. This
area of the access road is controlled by Waste Management. CEC has no control over Waste Management or the pipeline
companies operations.
Topsoil laydown on the active reclamation area south of Pit B(Area 31)continues. Most of the topsoil has been laid down.
CEC is in the process of placing the B horizon soil on. GPS values were collected of the progression of this topsoil laydown.
Support Facilities: Two gas wells are planned to be constructed by a third party(PDC)have not begun to be constructed as
of this inspection. These proposed locations were collected using the GeoXT GPS. CEC has received approval from DRMS
for a change in the post-mining land use of these locations(TR39).
Backfill&Grading: &Waste Disposal: Ash placement,grading and cover continues in the B pit. Grading and cover of the
ash occurs soon after end dump of the ash material so airborne dust is minimized. Topsoil/topsand placement has occurred
on the southern extent of the active backfill area. Ash placement extent was recorded using the GeoXT GPS unit.
Reve eg_tation: The vegetation throughout the mine site is very dry. Well established perennial grasses are appearing drought
stressed and beginning to dry up. CEC is still planning to conduct vegetation success sampling this summer for submittal of
a bond release application. A small depression south of the haul road(Area 22)has established a small patch of Cottonwood
and willows. One Tamarisk that had also established here was sprayed by CEC this spring. The weed control appears to be
effective in killing this tamarisk plant. One branch was still green,so CEC should monitor it to assure it dies off. Noxious
weeds were not observed in the permit area,partly due early dry down of forb species.
The pipeline company mentioned previously touched off a brush fire the week preceding this inspection(July 22,2008). The
fire burned westward away from the permit area. Mine personnel assisted in controlling the fire. Mr.Kipp estimated that
approximately 1500 acres burned,all outside of the permit area.
No maintenance items were identified with in the permit area.