_INSPECTION - C1981019 ‎(57)‎

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 8/18/2009
• Email Name: JRS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Colowyo C-1981-019
18 August 2009
Pg 8/9
Excess Spoil (cont.): - The Streeter Fill was walked in conjunction with walking the
perimeter ditches on 20 August 2009. The fill was stable and well vegetated and no
erosional problems were noted. The contour ditches on the pile were stable. This fill
has undergone a Phase II Bond Release and the Division has terminated quarterly fill
inspections for the pile.
-The operator is dumping spoil from the South Taylor Box Cut in the C-C' drain area
of the East Taylor Fill. This area now appears to be at least 50 feet above the final
grade, which is part of the plan. Colowyo will stockpile approximately 44 million
additional cubic yards of overburden on this area for final backfilling of the South
Taylor Pit. The operator appears to be constructing the pile in 50 foot lifts, as
designed. They are currently limited in their northern extent of the pile due to the
rock crusher being there. Once the rock crusher is moved they will be able to
continue the pile to the area where it toes out farther down the drainage. *See
pictures of the East Taylor Fill at the end of this inspection.*
- The operator was working on the A-A' underdrain area of the West Taylor Fill. The
designs for this fill are such that the rock drain will need to be poured in three
separate passes. The work is being done by Bower Brothers and is progressing nicely.
At the time of the inspection Bower had completed two loads in the center section
of the drain. They still need to complete the entire upper 500 feet of the drain and
the entire lower 1,500 feet of the drain (in addition to the third load in the center area
of the drain). They were also working on the point where the A-A' underdrain
intersects the B-B' underdrain. *See the pictures of the A-A' underdrain at the end of
this report.*
- The bottom section of the B-B' underdrain of the West Taylor fill has been completed
(to approximately where it intersects the A-A' underdrain). The majority of the upper
portion of the fill is within the limit of the South Taylor Box Cut and will be completed
once the coal is removed. *See pictures at the end of this report for the B-B'
underdrain of the West Taylor Fill.*
Revegetation/Reclamation Success: - Colowyo is planning on seeding the areas of
the East and West Pits that are currently being backfilled and graded and topsoiled
in October. Colowyo will be using the seed mix that was just approved with
Technical Revision 72.
- There was a very large patch of bull and musk thistle on the undisturbed area at the
bottom of the East Pit, Prospect Drainage, just north of the Prospect Pond (basically
right where the Prospect Ditch enters the native portion of the drainage). This area
was too steep to walk in its entirety but the area was judged to be at least three
acres. The Division recommends that Colowyo spray this area again this fall to help
control their spread next year.
- There was a large amount of Russian Thistle (tumble weed) in the 2007 reclamation
block. In some areas it was so thick that it did not look like there was any other
vegetation (either grasses or fortis). This 2007 reclamation area will need to be
monitored next year to ensure that the reclamation seed mix begins to take hold
better.