Laserfiche WebLink
November 3, 2010 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine JRS607 <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection R - Roads <br />R - Availability of Records N - Reclamation Success <br />R - Backfill & Grading N - Revegetation <br />R - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste N - Subsidence <br />N - Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Fish & Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site <br />R - Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers <br />Y - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />R - Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Processing Waste R - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This was a complete inspection of the Colowyo conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety on 3 and 4 November 2010. Stephanie Reigh of the Division accompanied me on the <br />inspection. Jennifer Sekulski of Colowyo accompanied us on the morning of 3 November 2010 and Ryan <br />Pawlowski accompanied us on the afternoon of 3 November 2010 and on 4 November 2010. Colowyo was <br />actively mining coal and hauling coal to the loadout. The weather was warm and sunny and the ground was <br />muddy and wet from recent snows and the subsequent snow melt. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS - Rule 5.02.4(1): <br />- All of the necessary records were available at the mine's office in the records room. Please see the records <br />checklist at the end of this inspection report for more detailed information. <br />BACKFILL and GRADING - Rule 4.14 Contemporaneous Reclamation 4.14.1; Approximate Original Contour <br />4.14.2; Highwall Elimination 4.14.1(2)(f); Steep Slopes 4.14.2, 4.27; Handling of Acid and Toxic Materials <br />4.14.3; Stabilization of Rills and Gullies 4.14.6: <br />- Colowyo has completed the backfilling and grading activities in the West Pit for 2010. During the Division's 22 <br />September 2010 inspection it was stated that Colowyo would be completing approximately 5 additional acres of <br />backfilling with the 102 dragline on the north edge of the 2010 West Pit reclamation area. This backfilling work <br />was completed at the time of the Division's 3 November 2010 inspection. This recently regraded area has not yet <br />had the topsoil replaced. <br />- Colowyo was working on the backfilling and regarding in the 2010 East Pit reclamation block during the <br />inspection. Colowyo has completed a portion of this reclamation (although the exact area is not known) as <br />evidenced by the fact that they were replacing topsoil on a portion of the reclamation block. Colowyo also appears <br />to have completed one of the three stock tanks they were scheduled to build in the 2010 East Pit reclamation block <br />(stock tank PD 1, on the Prospect Ditch). This stock tank is in the location of the old sump in the East Pit spoils. <br />Colowyo was also working on finishing stock tank NTEP1, on the North Tributary, East Pit Ditch. Colowyo will <br />also need to construct stock tank PD2 during the 2010 reclamation year. <br />As stated in previous inspection reports, in addition to the reclamation either completed or ongoing in the East and <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 5 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Page 2 of 12