_INSPECTION - C1980005 ‎(9)‎

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 7/14/2009
• Email Name: DTM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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III. 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.
This was a Phase I bond release inspection of the Seneca I1 Mine conducted on July 14, 2009 by
Dan Mathews of the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety(DRMS). Howard Strand of
the Office of Surface Mining(OSM) Denver Office, and Jennifer Maiolo of the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Little Snake Field Office also participated in the inspection. Roy Karo,
Scott Belden, and Ryan Costa represented Seneca Coal Company(SCC) on the inspection.
Frank and Ed Camilleti (grazing lessees on portions of the permit area)were present for the
initial overview discussion of the planned inspection at the SCC mine office,but they did not
accompany the group during the field inspection. Weather conditions were warm and clear
during the inspection, and ground conditions were dry in most areas.
The inspection was conducted in response to a Phase I bond release application(SL-4 in the
DRMS filing system) for 135.3 reclaimed acres of the total 2,295.3 acres of disturbance. The
SL-4 application was determined to be administratively complete on December 1, 2008. The
major portion(1,793.5 acres) of the entire disturbed area was previously approved for Phase I
release in association with SL-I, in 2006. The SL-4 application requests release for a 125.8 acre
block of reclamation in the southeast portion of the permit area referred to as the"East Wadge
Area", along with 8 acres of reclaimed solid waste disposal site in the southwest portion of the
permit area, and a 1.5 acre corridor associated with new postmining drainage channel PM-12A,
located approximately mid-way between the solid waste disposal area and the East Wadge Area.
The East Wadge Area is characterized by long, relatively steep slopes, and was excluded from
the Division's SL-1 approval due to extensive erosion. The PM-12A channel was constructed
along a former scraper route that had eroded. The channel had not been completed at the time
the SL-1 application was submitted, and was therefore not included in the SL-1 application.
Likewise, the 8 acre portion of the Solid Waste disposal site had not yet been regraded at the time
the SL-1 application was submitted, and was not included in that release application.
Following a brief overview meeting at the mine office, the field inspection was initiated. Frank
and Ed Camilleti chose not to take part in the inspection, and departed following the overview
meeting. During the inspection, participants walked through large portions of the release request
area, to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements, including
backfilling and grading, site stability,blending of regraded land to undisturbed areas, and
drainage control. An inclinometer was used to field check gradients at major drainage channels
and selected slope locations. Relevant documentation developed over the past several years is
included in previous inspection reports and referenced in this report as appropriate.
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