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Foidel Creek Mine Independent Oversight Inspection <br />Thursday May 27, 2010 8:15 - 1:00 <br />Weather conditions: scattered clouds, light winds, mid-70's, dry <br />This was an independent complete oversight inspection of the Foidel Creek mine conducted by <br />Christine Belka (OSMRE badge #182). Jerry Nettleton of Twentymile Coal Company (TCC) <br />accompanied me on the inspection. Prior to the inspection I reviewed permit.info online through <br />the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) website and recent DRMS inspection <br />reports. <br />The mine ID sign was intact and contained all the necessary information. <br />Records review: <br />Acord liability insurance policy is current (11/1/09 - 11/1/10) but form did not indicate <br />explosives coverage. Mr. Nettleton called Acord to ensure the mine has the required coverage. <br />The Acord associate indicated that it is part of the policy and was to send documentation to that <br />effect by the afternoon. <br />CPDES and SPCC plans are up to date and on file. Travelers Casualty and Surety Co provides a <br />bond in the amount of $8,563,089. The first quarterly pond inspection reports for 2010, certified <br />by Michael Ludlow, PE, are on file. These reports indicate light maintenance is needed at Pond <br />6MN (slight erosion, defective spillway), Pond 1 (new aerator to be installed in spring), Pond 2 <br />(dredge in summer), Pond F (clear flume in spring), Pond D (potential muskrat burrows), Pond <br />FCT (clear cattails and replace aerator), and Ponds E & B (replace booms). <br />Field evaluation: <br />The main facilities and storage area was well maintained and orderly. Roads were being graded <br />at the time of inspection. A water truck was observed spraying roads later in the day. Ducks were <br />observed in Pond E. The screening and wash plant was operating at the time of inspection. Slurry <br />from the wash plant generally contains about 1/4 solids and is pumped underground into sealed <br />mine workings. This is the waste from the "wash plant thickener underflow pipeline" leak <br />discussed later in this report. <br />The Pond D riser has recently been replaced. The disturbed area needs to be seeded. <br />Work was underway at the refuse disposal area (RDA) expansion site. Rock drain material was <br />on site and ready to be placed. The rock drain will be constructed with coarse material on the <br />bottom with progressively smaller rock diameters above. <br />The fire training and material storage areas were clear and maintained. <br />Waste material from the recent wash plant thickener underflow pipeline spill has not yet been <br />cleaned up. Mr. Nettleton indicated that it is now dry enough to remove and he will get a <br />contractor to work on it very soon. The material will be placed on the RDA. Coaly material <br />spilled in two locations. The lower spill area had waste material flow downhill and under the