_INSPECTION - C1981038 (49) - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 26, 2011 C-1981-038Bowie No. 1 Mine JJD Some development waste was placed intoi the coal waste piles.A discussion on the coal waste piles can be found under"processing waste." HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05❑El Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage—Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6,4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: There are four bin wall ponds in series at the East Mine.The upper(pond 1)and two lower(ponds 3 and 4)bin wall ponds were dry. There was standing water in the second from the top bin wall pond(pond 2). Also, there was a tree branch lodged in the primary discharge pipe riser of pond 2. The operator reported that efforts to remove the branch from the riser were made but,because the branch is firmly lodged and for safety concerns,the branch remains.The operator will attempt again to remove the branch.The gates on the primary discharge pipes on the upper three bin wall ponds were open, as designed. The lower pond's gated valve was closed, as designed, and is the NPDES point.There was no debris in the emergency spillways of the four bin wall ponds. The four bin walls appeared to be stable.The inslopes of the four ponds also appeared to be stable.The sediment pond at the West Ridge waste pile, which drains into the upper bin wall pond,had a little water in it. Spillways were functional and the pond embankment was stable and had a good grass cover. The two sediment ponds in series at the West Mine were dry. Pond embankments were stable.The sediment pond at the reclaimed run-of-mine coal stockpile area also was dry. There was a good grass cover on the pond embankment and the gated primary valve was in the closed position.There was no debris blocking the emergency spillway. The bin wall sediment pond at the train loadout was dry. The primary gate valve was closed and the emergency spillway was clear. The bin wall was stable.The sediment pond at the partially reclaimed temporary highway coal stockpile area was dry. Culverts and ditches at the mine site locations were functional. However,the riprapped ditch on the west side of the backfilled portal area at the East Mine needs additional work. PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES—Rule 4.10 and 4.11❑❑Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: Coal waste from the crushing and screening process was permanently stored in the old coal waste pile and, then,the West Ridge waste pile. The old coal waste pile, located just west of bin wall ponds 1 and 2,was well vegetated and showed no signs of instability. The road ditch upgradient from the old coal waste pile that acts as an upland diversion ditch was functional.No problems were noted with the much larger West Ridge waste pile The pile was well vegetated and the collection ditches formed by the pile's tilted terraces were in place.There were no signs of erosional gullying or slope stability problems on the pile.The upland diversion ditch for the West Ridge waste pile was in place on the hillside above the pile.There was a question as to whether the ditch had a proper slope to it so that runoff could drain out of the ditch.The operator will check into this issue. Also, it appeared that portions of the upland diversion ditch could use a little cleaning out. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 3 of 9 .a�.