_INSPECTION - C1981041 (42) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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 of the Roadside Portals Mine conducted on April 27, 2009 by Mike Boulay of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Grand Junction Field Office. Tonya Hammond of Snowcap Coal Company(SCC) was present during a portion of the inspection at the UTL loop area. Weather conditions were sunny and cool. Ground conditions were dry. Roads Roads were dry and in good condition. Road ditches and road culverts were generally well maintained throughout the various mine site locations and support facility areas. Hydrologic Balance All site Sedimentation Ponds were inspected except for Pond 7 at the North Decline area. Ponds 6, 9, 10, 11, and 13 were all dry. Pond 8 was holding a very small amount of water. UTL Pond No. 1 was dry and UTL Pond No. 2 was retaining a small amount of water in the southwest portion of the pond. Embankments, inlets and discharge structures were all stable and no problems were noted at any of these sediment pond locations. Drainage and diversion ditches were stable and dry with no significant erosion or other problems noted. The North Portals area was inspected. Coal Creek was mostly dry at the time of the inspection with only a very small amount of water in the lower reaches. The CRDA waste disposal sites were stable, diversions and perimeter ditches appeared functional. No problems were noted at any of the mine site locations during this inspection. Support Facilities Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. has a contract to purchase the UTL loop area from Snowcap Coal Company. Halliburton has obtained approval for a Conditional Use Permit from Mesa County to operate a sand storage facility at the UTL. One of the conditions of this permit is that prior to construction, and if applicable, the applicant must obtain all necessary clearances and permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, related to the bridge crossing, existing wetlands, and activities that may impact the floodplain. Jim Stover of J.E. Stover&Associates, Tonya Hammond of SCC and two representatives from Halliburton (Wayne Brookshire and Woody Kemp) were meeting at the UTL site to discuss the existence of wetlands and to discuss reclamation plans for UTL Ponds 1 and 2. I was unaware of the meeting at the UTL site at the time of my inspection, but was asked to join them in inspecting the area and discussing the wetland issue and viable options for reclamation of the UTL