2009-12-29_INSPECTION - C1981019

Home Browse Search

Colowyo C-1981-019 17 Dec 2009 Pg 4/5 Backfilling and Grading (cont.): - Colowyo is also dumping material from the South Taylor Pit into the bench that was cut for the highwall miner to access the E2-Seam. The mining in this area has been completed and Colowyo will bring this area close to the approved post-mining topography but will not replace the topsoil or seed the area yet, as it does not tie in to anything. - The West Pit area that was backfilled, topsoiled and seeded this summer was observed from below at the East Taylor Pond and from above along the east side of the reclamation (it was too muddy and snowy to walk on the reclamation). The area was mostly covered with snow but there were several small areas where the snow has completely melted off. It appears as though all of the snow that has melted thus far has infiltrated into the topsoil and overburden, as there were no signs of water flowing over the reclamation, there was no water flowing in any of the contour ditches, no water flowing in the Taylor Tributary Ditch and there was no water flowing into the East Taylor Pond. Thus far the 2009 West Pit reclamation has remained stable. - The 2009 East Pit reclamation was not accessible at the time of the inspection. It is anticipated that this area will remain inaccessible until late spring or early summer. General Mine Plan Compliance: - The 101 dragline has completed its work in the West Pit and has walked back to the edge of the East Pit highwall. No additional reclamation has been completed on the East Pit highwall. - The 102 dragline was performing Backfilling operations on a small (approximately 23 acre) wedge along the East Pit/West Pit boundary. Please see the "Backfilling and Grading" section for more detail. - The 103 dragline was also working in the West Pit removing B-Seam overburden. - The 114 shovel operation was in the South Taylor Pit box-cut, although it was down at the time of the inspection for scheduled maintenance. - The 115 excavator was working in the X-Pod area of the Section 16 Pit extension removing X-Seam overburden. It was being assisted by the LeTourneau loader. Excess Spoil: - The C-C' underdrain area of the East Taylor is still active, but Colowyo was not currently using the area as a dump, Colowyo is currently working on the fifth lift and is above the pile's final approved topography. Colowyo will use this area as a temporary overburden stockpile and will return all of the material above the approved final topography to the South Taylor Pit. - Colowyo is also using the B-B' underdrain area of the West Taylor Fill for excess spoil placement. This is the area that is being actively used at this time. Currently Colowyo is still working on the first lift of the fill at this time. The B-B' underdrain of the West Taylor Fill will eventually meet-up with the A-A' underdrain and continue both north and south in the Taylor Draw. *Please see the pictures of the 13-13' underdrain of the West Taylor Fill at the end of this inspection report.* - Colowyo has submitted Technical Revision 81 to the Division. This revision proposes to change the volume and configuration of the East Taylor Fill, the West Taylor Fill and the temporary overburden stockpiles. This revision was deemed complete on 28 December 2009 and is currently under review by the Division.