_INSPECTION - C1981047 (23) - 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. was sent to the Division in a submittal dated June 10,2008. Additionally, in a submittal dated July 14, 2008, Minrec provided the proof of publication for the public notice that announced the bond release request. Finally, supplemental information in support of the bond release request was presented to the Division in a submittal dated July 16, 2008. The Division found SL-2 complete on July 28, 2008. The Division sent completeness notification letters to Minrec, Inc. and the Office of Surface Mining the following day. In letters dated August 7, 2008,the Division notified the required parties that the bond release inspection would be held on August 27,2008,which was thirty days after completeness. The inspection notification letters were sent to Minrec, Inc.,the Office of Surface Mining, Oxbow Mining, LLC.,the U.S. Forest Service and the holders of the Allen Grazing Rights. The bond release field inspection was held on August 27, 2008. Blue Ribbon Mine Background The Blue Ribbon Mine was an underground room and pillar mine which began operating in 1977.Prior to that time, the old Blue Ribbon Mine had operated from 1952 to 1963.The Blue Ribbon Coal Company mined the E,or Hawk's Nest, seam, using continuous miners to mine down dip. The production rate was approximately 192,000 tons per year. The ownership of the minerals and land includes both private and federal entities.The permit area covers 340.8 acres. Of the 16.9 acres of actual disturbance, 16.2 acres have been reclaimed, leaving 0.7 acres left to be reclaimed. The main mine site was located just to the east of Hubbard Creek while a temporary coal stockpile area was located just to the west of Hubbard Creek. The coal from the mine was screened and loaded onto trucks for shipment to market.The coal was weighed at the truck scale facility located along Highway 133.However,the scale facility was removed from the permit area in 1989 for state highway construction. Sediment control at the mine site consisted of five sediment ponds with associated ditches and culverts. Upon cessation of mining activities in 1985, the three mine portals were sealed, surface facilities removed in late 1985, and foundations and other non-combustible, non-toxic material was used to backfill the portal bench and stockpile areas in 1986. All surface disturbances except ponds 3, 4, and 5, the light use road to pond 5, and the Hubbard Creek crossing were reclaimed to the post mining land uses of wildlife habitat, grazing and recreation. In 1984,the backfilled mine bench showed increasing stability problems.Therefore,during 1984 and 1985,the mine bench at the Blue Ribbon Mine was stabilized by rebuilding the mine bench with an engineered fill of underground coal mine waste.This material was obtained from Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine.The required 4 feet of cover material over the coal waste was verified and documented by the Division in its inspection report dated 12/10/1986. Ditches that were designed for the 100 yr-24 hour precipitation event were constructed to drain water around the covered coal waste pile area. Rock underdrains were placed in and under the coal mine waste to channel spring water and seepage from the coal mine waste fill. Topsoil was not completely salvaged from all of the disturbed areas since much of the mine site was disturbed prior to any such regulatory requirement. However, soil surveys conducted by the operator indicated that,with Page 3