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January 20,2011 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine JRS <br /> <F_:5:D <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 /> N -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 R - Support Facilities On-site <br /> R -Hydrologic Balance N -Signs and Markers <br /> R -Gen.Compliance With Mine Plan N -Support Facilities Not On-site <br /> R -Other N -Special Categories Of Mining <br /> N -Processing Waste N -Topsoil <br /> COMMENTS <br /> This was an aerial inspection of the Colowyo Mine. The photographs were taken by Harry Ranney of the Division <br /> on 20 January 2011. The mine was not actively producing coal at the time of the inspection because it was a down <br /> day for maintenance. The weather was clear and most of the mine areas were covered with snow. <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 /> -Based on the photos of the West Pit area,it does not appear that Colowyo has started any of 2011 backfilling and <br /> regrading work at this time. <br /> -The east portion of the 2010 West Pit regrade area was visible in the aerial photographs. The area was covered <br /> with snow but appeared to be stable. There was no visible cracking, settling or slumping of the backfill seen. It <br /> does not appear as though Colowyo has cut any contour ditches into the regraded slopes. This could cause a <br /> problem with sheet flow in this area,especially farther to the west,where the slopes become steeper. Colowyo <br /> should cut some contour ditches into the 2010 West Pit reclamation prior to the spring runoff season. <br /> -The east portion of the 2009 West Pit reclamation was visible in the aerial photographs. The area appeared to be <br /> stable and no cracking, settling or slumping was seen in the backfill. <br /> EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE—Rule 4.09 Placement; Drainage Control; Surface <br /> Stabilization: <br /> -The West Taylor Fill was covered with snow. There were no tracks or bare spots on either the fill or the haul <br /> road going to the fill. It does not appear that Colowyo is actively dumping excess spoil on the West Taylor Fill. <br /> -The East Taylor Fill still has four lifts. The fill haul road to the top of the fill was covered with snow and this <br /> portion of the fill did not appear to be active. Over the past few months Colowyo has been dumping material in <br /> the front(north_portion of the fill where the rock crusher was placed. The haul road to this area was plowed so <br /> this may be where Colowyo is dumping spoil. <br /> -The reclaimed slopes of the West Pit Fill were visible in the aerial photographs. The slopes were covered with <br /> snow but appeared to be stable. <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> Page 2 of 6 <br />