_INSPECTION - C1980007 ‎(40)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 4/21/2009
• Email Name: TAK
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Processing Waste
The outslopes of the Refuse Pile Expansion(RPE)pile and the Lower Refuse Pile(LRP) showed no
signs of structural instability. Survey markers were in place on the faces of both piles. The top of the
LRP is being used for equipment storage, as approved. The operator is backhauling its refuse from the
Bowie No. 2 Mine wash plant to the RPE at the West Elk Mine where it is held in a temporary
stockpile on top of the RPE and then is incorporated into individual lifts (see photo). MR-350 recently
approved incorporating this backhauled refuse into the RPE, with the requirement that data from the
initial lifts constructed with the washed refuse indicate adequate acceptable moisture and density will
be achieved. DRMS is reviewing geotechnical data recently submitted by the operator for verifying
comparability of geotechnical properties of the washed refuse and property values used in the original
design of the RPE.
Support Facilities
No problems were found in the following areas: materials storage bench, trash compactor, explosives
storage area,barrel storage building, hydraulic components storage, the Sylvester Gulch mine water
pumping facility, and the polishing pond.
General Mine Plan Compliance
The operator appeared to be following the approved mine plan.
Air Resource Protection
A wind that came up during the inspection created dust for a brief time in the coal stockpile area. The
operator's representative immediately mobilized a water spraying truck by radio, preventing a potential
fugitive dust problem.
Subsidence
Stream flow in Sylvester Gulch was observed upstream and downstream from the area recently
undermined by the southwest corner of B-seam Panel 25. No loss of streamflow was apparent where
the stream crossed over the panel.
Offsite Support Facilities
Contractors were active at the Deer Creek Shaft where the vent shaft and emergency escape shaft are
being raised-bore drilled. Activity was confined to the approved disturbed area. Adequate alternative
sediment control measures (straw waddles and straw bales) were in place at the point where runoff
leaves the Deer Creek Shaft disturbed area(a Small Area Exemption).
Documents Received
No documents were received during the inspection.
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