_INSPECTION - C1981019 ‎(22)‎

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 9/16/2009
• Email Name: JRS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Colowyo C-1981-019
16 Sept 2009
Pg 2/5
Backfilling and Grading (cont.): - Colowyo has completed the lower portion of the
Prospect Ditch and a short, unnamed ditch to its immediate north. With the
completion of this lower portion of the ditch, the Prospect ditch construction appears
to be complete. Colowyo will need to provide the Division with an as-built map and
report of the Prospect Ditch verifying size, grades and construction.
- Colowyo has also completed the lower approximately 800 feet of the Final East Pit
Dutch and the lower approximately 650 feet of the North Tributary, East Pit Ditch. Both
of these ditches are rock-lined ditches. Based on the field inspection and the 17
September aerial photographs, it appears as though the ditches are in the locations
shown on Map 41 - Watershed Boundaries for Hydrologic Modeling. There were a
few items that were noted on the inspection and in the aerial photographs that will
need to be watched. First, there is a 900 turn in the North Tributary, East Pit Ditch. This
area will need to be inspected closely in the future to ensure that it does not blow
out. The second item is the riprap placement in the bottom of the Final East Pit Ditch.
The riprap looks like it was dumped into the lower-most portion of the ditch and not
placed there. Colowyo will need to watch this portion of the ditch to ensure the
riprap stays in place and is not washed into the drainage. *See Pictures at the end of
this report*
- Colowyo has moved the 101 dragline from the East Pit highwall, where it was doing
intermittent reclamation. The 101 is now in the West Pit, uncovering X-Seam coal. It
was unclear whether the 101 would return to the East Pit to complete more
reclamation in the future.
- Colowyo has completed backfilling and grading of the lower East Taylor area in
Sections 4 and 9 of the West Pit. The Division walked this area and determined that
Colowyo has reclaimed approximately 55.5 acres. This is more than the 42 acres that
Colowyo had originally planned on reclaiming. The area that was reclaimed is within
the approximately 93 acres in the 2009-2010 reclamation block (shown of Map 29 -
Spoil Grading). The area is the lower portion of the East Taylor watershed and the
runoff from the regraded area will flow into the East Taylor Pond. The runoff from the
area above (south of) the reclamation will continue to flow into the West Pit, so no
disturbed area runoff will flow over the reclamation. The reclamation includes the
reestablishment of the lower portion of the East Taylor drainage that runs along the
area. There is approximately 4,300 linear feet along the west side of the reclamation
block that was tied-in to the native (undisturbed) area. The reclamation flows nicely
with the native areas to the west. There are approximately 37 acres of backfilling
and grading remaining in the 2009-2010 reclamation block and more than 500 acres
of backfilling and grading in the 2008-2012 reclamation blocks. *See Pictures at the
end of this report*
- Colowyo has completed the lower approximately 1,900 feet of the Taylor Tributary
Ditch in the East Taylor Watershed of the West Pit. The ditch is a riprapped ditch and,
although this portion has a very shallow grade, it will carry all of the runoff for
approximately half of the reclaimed West Pit. Approximately 2,200 feet of the ditch
to the south have also been "roughed-in" but is currently being used as a haul road
for topsoil hauling and equipment access. This portion will be completed when the
2009-2010 reclamation block is completed next year.