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November 2, 2011 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine MPB <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 N - Roads <br />N - Availability of Records N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Backfill & Grading N - Revegetation <br />N - 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 />N - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On -site <br />N - Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Processing Waste N - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />INTRODUCTION: <br />This was a partial inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted on November 2, 2011 by Mike Boulay of the <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) Grand Junction Field Office. The purpose of the <br />inspection was to investigate information provided to the Division from a concerned citizen regarding material <br />being placed into the North Fork of the Gunnison River in the immediate vicinity of the West Elk Mine. At <br />around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday November 1, 2011 we received a phone call in our Denver office from a citizen <br />informing us of material being placed into the N. Fork of the Gunnison River near the West Elk Mine, and that the <br />river was turning red. The citizen requested that their name be held confidential. They indicated that they were <br />concerned about what was happening, and wanted to know if someone could come down and take a water quality <br />sample of the water in the river. <br />The Division originally requested that something be provided in writing. The citizen indicated that they would try <br />and provide something by Wednesday morning the following day. On Tuesday evening David Berry Coal <br />Program Director advised that we have enough information to conduct an inspection tomorrow. David also <br />directed Senior Staff to notify the Colorado Department of Public health & Environment (CDPHE), the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife (DOW) and the West Elk Mine of the situation and inquire of the West Elk Mine as to what <br />occurred. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 <br />Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.053; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, <br />4.05.10, Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13, Surface Water Monitoring <br />4.05.13; Drainage — Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 6 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Page 2 of 7 <br />