_INSPECTION - C1981019 (30) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Colowyo C-1981-019 28 Jan 10 Pg 3/3 Backfilling and Grading (cont.): - Colowyo was working on backfilling the 2010 area of the East Pit (although the operations were down at the time of the inspection for routine maintenance). They are pushing material on the south side of the 2009 reclamation area, by the North Tributary, East Pit Ditch. The reclamation that was completed in the summer of 2009 was covered with snow. The south portion of that reclamation block appeared to have very deep snow. The prevailing wind at the mine is from the southwest so it appears as though the snow is blowing in from the South Taylor Pit area and above and being deposited on the reclamation. Colowyo will need to watch this area closely during spring snowmelt/runoff to ensure the reclamation remains stable. - The West Pit area that was backfilled, topsoiled and seeded in the summer of 2009 was observed from above (on the east side). The area appeared to remain stable. This area has received a fair amount of snow, with some melting off in the previous months. No problems were noted on this portion of the backfill at the time of the inspection. All of the runoff from this area will flow into the series of contour ditches, into the Taylor Tributary Ditch and finally into the East Taylor Pond. General Mine Plan Compliance: - The 101 dragline was back on the edge of the East Pit highwall. No additional reclamation has been completed on the East Pit highwall and Colowyo has shut off power to the 101 . - The 102 dragline was down for scheduled maintenance but has been performing backfilling operations in the Taylor Draw. Please see the "Backfilling and Grading" section for more detail. - The 103 dragline was also down for scheduled maintenance but has been working in the West Pit removing overburden. - The 114 shovel operation was down for scheduled maintenance but was sitting in the South Taylor Pit box-cut, where it is removing B-Seam overburden. Excess Spoil: - The C-C' underdrain area of the East Taylor is still active, but Colowyo has not used the area as a dump for the last several months. Colowyo is 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, although the majority of the overburden material has been going to the Section 16 Pit final cut area for the past two months. Colowyo is working on the second lift of the fill at this time. They have moved down towards the toe (and the West Taylor Pond) but remain at least 600 feet from the final toe. No overburden material has been placed up gradient from this area into the A-A' underdrain. - 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. This completes the 28 January 2010 inspection report for the Colowyo Mine.