_INSPECTION - C1996083 (41) - 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 partial inspection conducted by Joe Dudash of the Colorado DRMS.Bill Bear represented the operator during the inspection.The operator is still doing only development mining. Longwall mining is anticipated to restart in May. Hubbard Creek Area The road up Hubbard Creek Canyon was passable and mostly dry. Silt fence and straw bales were in place as sediment control along the road at the vent shaft site area and at the dewatering well pad area. Some of the silt fence along the road adjacent to the vent shaft pad area could use a little repair.The silt fence around the rock storage area in Freeman Gulch needs maintenance as well.The road ditch alongside the vent shaft pad area could use a little better definition. At the Hubbard Creek vent shaft pad,the mine ID signs and surface disturbance markers were up.The mud pit has not been reclaimed yet and had a little standing water in it.The security fence around the mud pit is still in place.The upland diversion ditch had enough capacity.The contractor is constructing a hoist so that the vent shaft can become an emergency exit for the mine.The vent shaft pad was dry. A row of straw bales was placed across the entrance ramp to the pad. The dewatering well area pad was graveled and a double row of straw bales had been placed across the entrance ramp. Silt fence was installed around the topsoil stockpile.However,a topsoil sign still needs to be installed. Unit Train Loadout A unit train was being loaded during the inspection.There was no indication of fugitive dust from the loading operation. The mine ID sign was up at the entrance to the loadout and surface disturbance markers were up around the disturbed area. Sedimentation pond J was dry.The primary discharge pump was in place and the riprapped emergency spillway was functional.The inlets to pond J were riprapped.Pond K was also dry.The pond K primary discharge pipe and emergency spillway were functional.The train loadout and spur line bench was stable and the bench outslopes were well vegetated. Mine water was being discharged just south of the train loadout bin structure and the discharged water was clear.The mine water is being sampled for compliance. Main Mine Site There was only a small volume of coal that was being stockpiled at the coal stockpile bench next to the highway.West Elk is continuing to truck coal to Bowie for processing in Bowie's wash plant.West Elk trucks back the West Elk coal waste from the washing plant and Bowie ships out West Elk's coal.There were no problems with coal on the highway.The wash plant was in operation during the inspection and coal waste from the washing of Bowie's coal was being trucked to Bowie's coal waste pile.The cut slope behind and above the wash plant was stable.There was only a little water in pond B. The pond embankment was stable and discharge structures were operational.The float was on the primary discharge hose. The silt fence at the material storage area next to the overhead conveyor will need some repair soon. Coal Waste Stockpiles There was no activity at coal waste pile no.3.Considerable earthwork has been done as preparation but no coal waste has been placed there yet.Bowie still needs to secure the necessary air(construction)permit from the State.The collection ditch at the downgradient end of the site was in place and led to pond J.The topsoil stockpile was covered in erosion control blankets.The topsoil stockpile's upland diversion ditch was in place. The contractor was performing compaction testing at the gob pile no.4 area.There was no ponding of water on the gob pile.The gob pile outslopes were stable.The coal waste pile haul road was in good condition. c:/word/bowie2/insp0309