_INSPECTION - C1982057 ‎(42)‎

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 11/19/2009
• Email Name: DTM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

+ 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.
General Comments
This was an aerial inspection covering most portions of the Seneca II-W reclaimed mine pit areas. 23 oblique
aerial photos were taken by Harry Ranney of the Division on the morning of November 19, 2009. The imagery
was viewed by Dan Mathews of the Division on 11/25/09. Weather appeared to be clear at the time of the flight.
Ground conditions ranged from fully snow covered in most areas to mostly open on steep south facing slopes.
There was no activity at the site at the time of the flight.
Roads
There was fresh snow cover on many of the permit area roads. The MEHR and Road "A"to a point beyond the
shop area, as well as the Oil Well Road were relatively free of snow.
Hydrologic Balance
Sediment Ponds 006, 016, 016A, and 017 were covered by the digital images. Each of these ponds contained a
significant pool and was frozen over. To the extent that could be discerned, the ponds appeared to be functional
and the embankments stable. Several stock ponds were also observed, including T-18, T-20, T-5, T-26, T-27,
and T-25. The stock ponds were iced over and/or snow covered. Disturbed lands in the various areas covered
by the images appeared to be properly contained within the approved sediment control perimeters. Sediment
Pond 005 in the northern portion of the mine area was not covered by the images.
Backfill &Grading/Slides and Damage
A reclaimed highwall slope area east of the Ridgeline Access Road and south of upper 006 Gulch has been the
site of recurrent slumping, most recently in the spring of 2009. It was evident from aerial images that the slope
failure area was recently regraded to eliminate scarps, cracks and toe bulging. The regraded slope may have
also been re-topsoiled and reseeded, but this could not be determined due to snow cover. Aerial images from
August 2009 prior to slump regrading and November 2009 following regrading are attached to this report. Due
to the significant and recurrent instability, the affected slope area will be excluded from the Division's proposed
SL-2 Phase 1 bond release decision. Slope re-grading had not been implemented at the time of the Division's
site inspection for SL-2, in October 2009.
The South Extension of the permit area, specifically including permanent drainages in the 016/016A and 017
watersheds experienced significant erosion due to intense rainfall shortly after snowmelt in the spring of 2009.
The operator conducted extensive rill and gully repair work and permanent channel repairs in these watersheds
during the 2009 field season. Construction of erosion control structures (aka surge ponds)were approved by
the Division, to be field located along permanent drainages up-gradient of sedimentation ponds, and a number of
such structures were completed during 2009 within the 016/016A and 017 watersheds. These structures include
earthen embankments with primary spillway pipes designed to slow runoff but fully de-water inflow within a
relatively short timeframe. Drainage channel details were not discernable in the images due to snow cover, but
recently constructed surge ponds were evident in both watersheds. Due to the significant erosion and
associated repairs in the South Extension Area watersheds, the Division will exclude the entire South Extension
Area from the proposed SL-2 Phase 1 bond release decision.
Detailed ground conditions could not be observed in most areas, however the relatively large slope failure areas
in close proximity to Sedimentation Ponds 016 and 016A, described in previous inspection reports, were evident.
The slide area on the steep south facing slope extending from above"J" Road down to the channel between 016
and 016A was largely free of snow, while the scarp line associated with the"Shrub Plot Slide" directly east of
016A could be discerned beneath the snow cover. The area affected by these slides was not included by SCC
in the SL-2 Phase 1 bond release request, and final remediation plans have not yet been developed.
Some areas of rill erosion that may warrant further stabilization work were evident in the vicinity of the fenced
shrub plot near Permanent Channel PM-3A.
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