2010-05-13_INSPECTION - C1980007

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The embankments, inslopes, and discharge structures of Ponds MB-5E and MB-3 appeared in good condition. No discharge was occurring at the underground mine water pumping site in Sylvester Gulch (CDPS outfall 017). Processing Waste The outslopes of the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) pile and the Lower Refuse Pile (LRP) showed no signs of structural instability. The RPE is nearing its maximum designed elevation. Survey markers were in place on the faces of both piles. Construction crews were active on top of the LRP where the coal processing plant is being constructed (work approved in TR-118). Construction crews were also active on the RPE where the Refuse Conveyor has recently been partially constructed. Support Facilities No problems were found in the following areas: materials storage bench, trash compactor, explosives storage area, barrel storage building, hydraulic components storage, the Sylvester Gulch mine water pumping facility, and the polishing pond. No problems were found at MDW sites E-1-8 and 11.5. Topsoil The following topsoil stockpiles appeared in good shape with no signs of excessive erosion: Sylvester Gulch, Main Surface Facilities, Pond MB-5E, MDW E1-8, MDW E-11.5, and the Deer Creek Shaft. General Mine Plan Compliance The operator maintains in the mine office a map that is continually updated with the areal extent, orientation, and dimensions of underground workings. During the inspection, I compared this updated map to the map in the permit application that is titled Map 51, E-Seam Mine Plan. The operator's updated map in the office showed a set of continuous miner entries (3 entries wide) on the east end of Longwall Panel E-3 that appeared to extend approximately 1,000 feet beyond the end of that panel as that panel is shown on Map 51. Each of the three entries appears approximately 20 feet wide, in a continuous miner section that has an overall width (including unmined pillars) of approximately 250 feet. The three entries are located within the permit area, in federal lease COC-67232, in SE1/4 Section 35 and SWl/4 Section 36, Township 13 South, Range 90 West. The operator's representatives explained that the three entries were developed in an effort to determine mining feasibility at the east end of Panel E-3, as the Bureau of Land Management encourages maximum development of the coal resource within a lease. Mining equipment has been removed from the entries. During the inspection, the operator's representatives provided me a draft in-house mine plan on the Map 51 base map that shows the entries, and they explained that they will update Map 51 in the permit application and inquired as to which type of revision (Minor or Technical) would be appropriate for updating the map. I told them that I would advise them of the type of revision after consulting my supervisor and that DRMS would research mine plan compliance in the area of the three entries. 4