2010-11-17_INSPECTION - C1981019

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November 3, 20 10 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine JRS - The Work Area Pond (NPDES 002A) contained water approximately two feet below the top of the riser pipe and one foot below the weep holes. Water was flowing into the pond from snow melt but the pond was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and appeared stable. No erosional problems were noted on the pond embankment at the time of the inspection. There is a good deal of sediment at the inlet of the Work Area Pond. Jennifer Sekulski of Colowyo indicated that Colowyo would be cleaning this pond at some point this fall. - The Gossard Pond (NPDES 003A) contained water approximately four feet below the discharge pipe and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The Gulch A Pond (NPDES 004A) was basically dry at the time of the inspection. The pond was cleaned in late September by a contractor. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The Stoker Siding Pond (NPDES 005A) contained water at the level of the weep hole and was discharging an immeasurable trickle at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The Rail Loop Pond (NPDES 006A) contained water at a level approximately five feet below the gated valve and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. This pond was cleaned in late September or Early October by a contractor. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The Prospect Pond (NPDES 007A) contained water approximately six feet below the top of the discharge pipe and was right at the weep hole and was discharging an immeasurable trickle at the time of the inspection. The top of the embankment was recently smoothed out by the contractor who cleaned the Gulch A and Rail Loop Ponds. The embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The West Pit Pond (NPDES 008A) was basically dry ( a very small amount of water was in the pond) at the time of the inspection. There was a small amount of water in the presettling basin but it was not discharging into the main pond. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The East Taylor Pond (NPDES 009A) contained water approximately two inches below the weep hole and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. There is a small amount of sediment at the inlet. Colowyo will need to monitor the sediment level in this pond and clean the pond as necessary. The water in the pond was very dirty and, if the pond discharged, would probably not meet the suspended solids limit in Colowyo's NPDES permit. Colowyo may need to use a flocculent to help get the sediment to settle out prior to discharge. There is also a question regarding the NPDES sample location at the pond's outfall. The discharge basically travels over the ground before entering the flume. This "overland" travel could skew the flow, pH, electric conductivity and suspended solids values from any future discharge. Colowyo will need to review the location of the flume and NPDES sample location and adjust this as necessary. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The Section 28 Pond (NPDES 012A) was basically dry at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment is fairly well vegetated and stable. There are still a few small bare spots in the vegetation on the embankment that may need to be interseeded again. No erosional problems were noted on the embankment at the time of the inspection. - Culvert L was clean at the time of the inspection. Culvert M did contain sediment to the level where it needs to be cleaned out. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 5 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 Page 4 of 12