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III. COMMENTS - COMPLIANCE <br /> Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during <br /> the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the <br /> facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br /> This was a partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining <br /> and Safety(DRMS). Scott Wanstedt of Blue Mountain Energy(BME)accompanied the inspection and <br /> represented the operator. The mine is an active underground longwall mine. The operation is currently <br /> mining the LWB-10. At the time of the inspection, no coal was being transported along the conveyor to <br /> the slot storage building, due to an acceptable stockpile. The weather was warm and dry. The operator---- <br /> said that they had only received a minor amount of precipitation the preceding weekend. <br /> Roads: The haulroads and access roads throughout the mine site were dry but not dusty. Little traffic <br /> was observed along the roadways. Road ditches and grading of roads appear to be in good condition. <br /> No problems were identified with the roads. <br /> Hydrologic Balance: DPlpond was inspected. Only a small pool of water was present in the pond, well <br /> below the discharge elevation. BME had completed construction of a concrete emergency spillway <br /> "wall" at the designed elevation. This wall will also act as a buttress to stabilize the rip rap in the <br /> emergency spillway channel in the event this pond ever discharges through the emergency spillway. <br /> The operator stated that pond DP-1 had not discharged, even through the primary spillway, for at least 2 <br /> years. BME has a pump and the primary spillway that allows the operator to recycle some of the water <br /> from this pond. <br /> Refuse pile ponds RP-5, RP-4, RP-2/3, and RP-1 were inspected. RP-5 was dry, tamarisk had been <br /> previously controlled in this pond. RP-4 pond had a small pool of water near the primary riser, well <br /> below the discharge level. This pond was mostly dry. RP-2/3 pond is composed of three cells. The two <br /> side cells contained low pools of water. The central cell with the riser& spillway was dry. Tamarisk <br /> control had previously been implemented on this pond area with no sign of resprouting. <br /> Slot storage ponds SS-1 and SS-2 were inspected. SS-1 was dry and the bottom was well vegetated. SS- <br /> 2 was damp due to wash down water from the facilities. Several very shallow puddles were present in <br /> the pond and cattails were abundant in the pond bottom. There was evidence that tamarisk had been <br /> controlled at these ponds, although the operator noted that there were some resprouting tamarisk on the <br /> embankment of SS-2. <br /> No other noxious weeds were present on the ponds. <br /> Processing waste: The refuse piles were inspected. BME is actively spreading refuse on the 5A pile. <br /> BME is preparing to spread and compact stockpiled material from the winter months. Some rilling is <br /> apparent on the face of the refuse piles, however, this is in accordance with the design and all material <br /> coming off the face of the piles are contained in the ditches and ultimately to the sediment ponds. <br /> Refuse pile ditches are functioning well and directing flows to the appropriate ponds. No problems were <br /> noted with the refuse piles. <br /> 3 of 5 WHITE-File YELLOW-Operator PINK-Specialist <br />