_INSPECTION - C1996083 ‎(42)‎

• Permit No: C1996083
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 4/21/2009
• Email Name: JJD
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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 DBMS.Bill Bear represented the
operator during the field inspection.The mine is experiencing elevated levels of methane from an underground
fault.The longwall has been down for some time and development mining has slowed down.
Main Mine Site
There was almost no coal at the coal stockpile bench next to the highway and at the coal stockpile on the D-
seam portal bench. West Elk continues to truck in raw coal to the Bowie No. 2 Mine for washing. The coal
refuse is trucked back to West Elk. There was a little coal dust on the highway but the operator was using a
water truck to clean up the road.The runoff from the road goes into a ditch that leads to sediment pond B.
The ditches and culverts at the mine entrance were functional, although the operator will be doing some ditch
maintenance soon.Pond B had a little standing water in it. The float was attached to the primary discharge pipe
hose. The emergency spillway was functional. The mine id sign was up at the mine entrance.
The paved main haul road was in good condition. The repair of the top curve of the haul'road has been
completed,except for paving.Also,the lessening of the slope of the highwall of the B-seam portal bench that is
below that haul road section has been completed. The sediment control system at the B-seam portal bench was
working properly. There were no problems with any of the facilities at the D-seam portal bench. The sediment
control system on this bench was also functioning properly. Surface disturbance markers were up around the
disturbed area. The rock catchment berm above the utility bench was functional.
Coal Waste Stockpile Areas
The outslope of coal waste stockpile no. 2 appeared to be stable. There were no indications of erosional
problems or geotechnical problems. The coverfill stockpile just to the east of coal waste stockpile no. 2 was also
stable. The riprapped collection ditch between the coal waste stockpile and the coverfill stockpile and that leads
into pond F was functioning properly. There was a little water in pond F.The float was attached to the primary
discharge hose and the pump was in place. Surface disturbance markers were up around the disturbed area.
Hubbard Creek Vent Shaft Area
The operator is working with the U.S Forest Service,which is the management agency for this area,on
establishing a more natural sediment control system for this area.instead of relying almost totally on silt tence,
the operator will be installing erosion control blankets on the disturbed outslopes, sloping the road away from
Hubbard Creek and allowing road drainage to flow into vegetated areas by way of road ditches and water bars.
Contractors were installing the facilities at the shaft site. A methane discharge pump has been installed to aid in
degassing the mine. The operator is still waiting for the mud pit to dry out before reclaiming it. The upland
diversion ditch was in place at the site. Mine id signs and stream buffer signs were up.
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