2011-06-28_INSPECTION - C1981019

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company hires a contractor to spray for weeds as needed, and this appears to be effective, as there are minimal signs of undesirable vegetation on the stockpiles. All stockpiles have the proper identification markers as required by Rule 4.02.7. The Team found two topsoil stockpiles that were identified on the ground but were not represented on any map. The mining company will correct this through a minor permit revision. Blasting Notification Evaluation: At the mine office, the Team evaluated the mine's blasting notifications. Because the Evaluation Year is from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 we examined blasting notification records for 2010 and 2011. This mine has three active pits and blasting occurs nearly every day. Since these pits have been operating for a number of years and there have been no changes to these blasting programs, annual public blasting notifications (letters to landowners /residents of dwellings and publication of the blasting schedule in a local newspaper) occur each January. The mine provided copies of the most recent notification letters and newspaper publications. If blasting programs are preexisting, annual notifications and publications of the same schedule are acceptable under Colorado Rule 4.08.3(1)(a)(c). If there is a change to the blasting schedule, notification letters will be sent to landowners informing them of the change. Additionally, this information will be published in the newspaper. Because blasting schedules are part of the approved permit, any changes would occur through a minor permit revision. Colowyo Mine has demonstrated that they are properly and timely notifying the public of blasting operations and schedules. Additional Inspection Details: When we arrived at the mine, OSM employees had to take the mine safety training at the guard office, which involved watching a video and taking a test. We then proceeded to the mine office where we were joined by Tony Tennyson. The group looked at various mine maps and prepared a plan for our site inspection. We all rode in Mr. Tennyson's vehicle. The Stocker Siding Pond near Topsoil Stockpile 17E appeared to be functioning as designed. There were no signs of erosion and the embankment was stable. A NPDES discharge point is located at this pond (see Photo 2). All ponds on site are flow - through treatment ponds instead of containment ponds. Topsoil stockpile 15I is located directly next to the haul road. This stockpile contains well - established vegetation (see Photo 3). Stockpile 151 is classified as a small area exemption since it is not associated to a pond. Any runoff that occurs from this area is handled through the storm water plan. There are four sumps in the bottom of the basin that control sediment before it is released into Taylor Draw. A portion of topsoil stockpile 15F was used for reclamation on an old coal stockpile that was reclaimed in 2010 due to concerns with fugitive emissions. This topsoil was moved across the road to the coal stockpile location (see Photo 4).