_INSPECTION - C1981038 (35) - Laserfiche WebLink

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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 Partial Inspection of the Bowie No. 1 Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the Colorado DRMS beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday 18 November 2009. No one represented the operator, Bowie Resources, LLC (BRL) in the field, but Basil Bear was available for discussion at the BRL office both prior to and following the inspection. Skies were clear and the temperature went from freezing to mild over the course of the day. The inspection focused on the East Mine and the Loadout Facility (areas missed due to bad weather during October's Complete Inspection). For ease of location description at the East Mine, Reclamation Zones as delineated on Map 6A-5C are utilized below. Roads • A storm had passed through the area during the previous weekend. Flat-lying and north- facing slopes were still snow-covered. At the East Mine, the reclaimed road surface, which was frozen early in the morning, became slippery once the frost had melted. Access by vehicle was not possible, but the area was successfully covered on foot. Hydrologic Balance • The West Ridge Pond was dry, and the bottom and north-facing impoundment slopes were covered with snow. Pond in-slopes are well-vegetated and stable (Photo 1). • One set of culverts (N 1) below the northwest corner of the West Ridge Refuse Disposal Area has not yet been removed. Basil said that BRL crews would complete the task within the next few weeks, as soon as ground conditions were conducive to construction activity. • Ponds 1 and 2, as viewed from the reclaimed road above, were snow-covered but appeared to be dry. • Silt fence was installed along the lower perimeter of the western tip of the reclaimed Diversion Channel (Zone 3-A). • All riprapped channels at the East Mine (as detailed on Map 6A-5D - Reclaimed Surface Drainage) appear to be stable. Rocks were fitted tightly together, and even steep segments of channel have maintained their integrity (Photo 2). • A short stretch of roadside ditch (below Zone 2-D) is filling with sediment, and should be cleaned out(or perhaps have the gradient steepened, if possible) before winter. • Across the road from Zone 2-13, it appears that a small amount of runoff may be leaving the road and traveling down the slope below. • The roadway surface on the hairpin turn adjacent to the eastern end of Zone 3-13 is showing signs of erosion. The steep grade is contributing to high velocity, and water is flowing along the road rather than into the roadside ditch. • The sedimentation pond at the Loadout Facility was dry, as was the pond at the Highway Coal Storage Area. • Embankment slopes of the RR Outslope SAE (Loadout Facility) are very well vegetated and the grass filter appears to be effective. A gravel berm was in place along the edge of the facility, above the southern portion of the SAE slope. The berm was continuous and has been well-maintained. Bowie No. 1 Mine C-1981-038 18-Nov-2008 -1-