_INSPECTION - C1996083 (38) - 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. This was a complete inspection conducted by Joe Dudash of the Colorado DRMS.Bill Bear represented the operator,Bowie Resources LLC, during the field inspection and the records check. The mine site areas were partially covered in snow.The areas clear of snow were muddy.Only development mining is taking place now. Main Mine Site Bowie has begun washing and shipping out West Elk coal on a temporary basis. West Elk transports the coal by haul truck to one of the stacker tubes at the Bowie coal stockpile.Bowie washes the West Elk coal and moves the coal by conveyor to the unit train loadout for shipment. Coal waste from the West Elk coal is trucked by West Elk back to the West Elk Mine.This process is interrupted when Bowie needs to wash and ship out its own coal. Because of the increased haul truck traffic at the mine site entrance,Bowie must continue to ensure that the entrance road and the old state highway 133 segment are clear of coal fines. Bowie has also started to discharge mine water from its B-seam workings to the river.The water is piped out of the B-seam portals and down the hill to a location where the mine water goes through a highway culvert to the river.There was one seal in the pipeline that had a very small leak and should be fixed. The leak is about 50 feet east of where the pipeline drops from the overhead conveyor.Bowie is also planning on discharging D-seam mine water through this same pipeline so that mining of the underlying B-seam can proceed without flooding of the workings from above. The main mine site was partially covered in snow.Culverts and ditches were functional,although some of them were covered in snow.The topsoil stockpile was covered in snow. Topsoil signs were up.The paved haul road was in good condition, although the last road curve at the top of the hill still needs to be paved since it had been relocated recently. Guard rail was up. The cut and fill slopes of the mine benches were stable. There were no signs of erosional problems with any of the bench outslopes. The contractor was finishing up the slope stabilization project at the B-seam portal bench cut slope.The repaired slump in the cut slope above the wash plant continues to hold up well. There was only a little ice-covered water in pond B. The pond embankment was stable and discharge structures were operational. Surface disturbance markers were up. Culverts and ditches at the mine entrance were functional and straw bales were in place.The mine ID sign was up at the entrance. There was only a little coal stockpiled on the B-seam portal bench and on the D-seam portal bench.There were no problems with any of the facilities.The operator was just completing the annual maintenance of the crusher/screener on the D-seam portal bench. The wash plant was operating. Coal Waste Stockpiles The haul road leading to coal waste stockpiles nos. 1,2 and 4 was muddy in spots but was passable.The road's outside berm and side ditches were in place.Material storage areas were well organized.Pond C had some ice- covered water in it,at the level of the primary. The float was on the primary hose.The ice-covered water level in pond D was below the level of the primary discharge pipe.The topsoil stockpiles in this area were protected by a good vegetative cover and by straw bales at the down gradient end.Topsoil signs were up on the stockpiles. 1