_INSPECTION - C1981041 ‎(44)‎

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 6/2/2009
• Email Name: DTM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Ill. 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.
General Comments
This was a partial inspection of the Roadside Portals Mine, focusing on observations of revegetated areas in the
South Portals vicinity, along a portion of the reclaimed conveyor corridor west of the river, substation location at
the North Portal area reclaimed in 2008, and upper benches of the CRDA-1 waste disposal site reclaimed in
2002. Tonya Hammond of Snowcap Coal Company was present during the inspection. Weather was cloudy
and warm.
South Portal Area Reclamation
South Portal vicinity reclaimed areas observed included various "non-active use" Industrial/Commercial
Postmining land use areas (portal backfill, reclaimed slopes of the former portal access road, and slopes below
the new permanent upper bench access road), as well as Fish and Wildlife Habitat postmining areas associated
with the former water tank bench and lower segment of reclaimed Light Use Road 1.
• Portal backfill slopes and regraded slopes of the former portal access road (located north of the lower
end of the new permanent upper bench road, and continuing along its length on the upslope side)were
seeded and mulched following roughening in January/February 2008. Slopes below the new upper
bench access road were seeded and mulched later in the spring of 2008. These slopes are within the
Industrial/Commercial PMLU area. Vegetation establishment on the 2:1 portal highwall backfill slope is
excellent, with a diverse cover of seeded perennial shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Species observed
include fourwing saltbush, shadscale saltbush, greasewood, winterfat, Palmer penstemon, various
wheatgrass species, Indian ricegrass, green needlegrass and needle-and-thread. The slope appeared
stable, with no evidence of rills or settling. Reclaimed slopes of the old access road exhibit patchier
perennial establishment, with generally lower cover and diversity as compared to the backfilled highwall.
In most areas, there is good initial establishment of seeded greasewood, along with scattered patches
and individuals of other seeded shrub and perennial grass species, and a component of weedy annual
grasses and forbs. The slope appeared stable, with only scattered minor rills in a few locations.
Vegetation establishment on the slopes below the new permanent road appeared similar to reclaimed
slopes of the former access road. It would appear that the vegetation stands on the reclaimed road
slopes have the potential to develop into a satisfactory vegetative cover, but it would be premature to
judge the adequacy of vegetation establishment on the reclaimed road slopes at this time.
• The reclaimed Fish and Wildlife Habitat areas located south of the portal area and east of the RSRDA
waste pile exhibit variable establishment of seeded species. Generally, the reclaimed lower segment of
the old light use road and south end of the water tank bench has a predominantly western exposure,
with good establishment of various shrubs, but also considerable presence of annual grasses and forbs,
with few perennial grasses. The north end of the water tank bench has a more northerly exposure, with
a significant presence of perennial wheatgrasses, along with shadscale saltbush and winterfat. These
slopes are stable with no evidence of slumping or erosion. Two patches of whitetop weed (noxious
species), were observed and will need to be treated in accordance with the approved weed
control plan. One patch was located alon� a small drainage at the extreme north end of the
water tank bench reclaimed area, and a 2" patch was located directly downslope from the first,
just upslope from the diversion ditch.
Conveyor Corridor South of Coal Canyon Road
• The operator recently submitted a Phase II and III bond release application for the narrow reclaimed
corridor associated with the former overland conveyor located west of the river, between the reclaimed
Transfer Station#2 site at the south end of the corridor, and the Coal Canyon public access road at the
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