_INSPECTION - C1981022 (54) - Laserfiche WebLink

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III. COMMENTS - COMPLIANCE Elk Creek C-1981-022 Pg 1/3 15 July 2009 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 Elk Creek and Sanborn Creek Mines conducted on 15 July 2009 by Jim Stark of CDRMS. Jim Kiger of Oxbow Mining, LLC accompanied me on the inspection. The mine was producing coal at the time of the inspection and the coal stockpile was full. The weather was warm and a bit overcast and the ground was dry. Signs and Markers: - The mine ID sign was in place at both the main entrance at the train loadout and the back entrance along old Highway 133. The signs contained all of the required information. The sign was in place at the West Valley Fill and the topsoil stockpile sign was in place at the topsoil pile for the fill. Permit boundary and disturbed boundary markers were also in place as required. All of the topsoil stockpile signs at the fan sites were in place as required. Roads: - The mine access road is a paved road. The road is well maintained and in good condition. - The road to the Elk Creek portals and facilities area is a dirt road that is surfaced with rock. The road was dry and appeared to be stable and well maintained at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the road at the time of the inspection. - The haul road to the West Valley Fill was dry and appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. There was no major rutting or erosional problems noted on the road at the time of the inspection. - The haul road to the II-West valley fill, which is a spur off of the road to the West Valley Fill, was also dry and appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. No ruts or erosional problems were noted on the road at the time of the inspection. - The East Yard Haul Road was well maintained and stable at the time of the inspection. This road is used for accessing the mine when a train is being loaded and for general mine storage. The gate to this "back" entrance has been locked unless a train is being loaded. No erosional problems were noted on the road at the time of the inspection. - The road to the Hubbard Creek fan site was dry and appeared to be well maintained and stable at the time of the inspection. This road is also used by Hotchkiss Ranch, the Bowie No. 2 Mine and outfitters and hunters. The road spur to the fan site itself was well maintained and stable. No rutting or erosional problems were noted on these roads. Hydrologic Balance: - Pond A contained water approximately one foot below the top and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond is an incised pond. The pond was stable at the time of the inspection. - Pond B contained water approximately three feet below the emergency spillway at the time of the inspection but was not discharging (discharge is through a gated valve below the water level). The embankment was well vegetated and appeared to be stable. No erosional problems were noted on the pond embankment. The emergency spillway was stable at the time of the inspection. This pond is scheduled to be cleaned the week of 20 July 2009. The material from the pond will be hauled to the East Yard Pond to dry then moved to the refuse pile.