2012-03-29_INSPECTION - C1996084

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Mine Site Inspection Mine Name: Lorencito Canyon Mine Permittee: New Elk Coal Company, LLC Permit ID #: C- 1996 -084 Inspection Date: 3/6/2012 9:00 — 5:00 Weather Conditions: windy, mild, dry ground conditions Participants: Christine Belka, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Badge ID #182 Janet Binns, Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) Bobby Steele, New Elk Coal Company (NEC) Field Evaluation This was a complete oversight inspection. Lorencito Canyon is a reclaimed surface mine. Hydrology: NEC used small area exclusions (SAE) for small topsoil borrow areas. Drainage from these areas passes through a vegetative filter prior to leaving the permit area. I did not observe any evidence of sediment leaving these SAEs. Ponds 9 and 9A were dry and appear to have sufficient capacity. Rills are forming in the slopes northeast of Fill 9 (see photo 6527). We noted several areas that require maintenance. Ms. Binns had also noted these areas in her recent (February) inspection report. NEC just received a copy of that report and has not yet had the opportunity to conduct the maintenance. Road grading activities damaged a culvert in the area and will eventually need to be replaced. This is not an urgent repair because the culvert still has sufficient capacity. The large concrete culvert needs sediment cleaned from the outlet (see photo 6528) . Pond 7 was dry during this inspection. Fill 7 appears stable (see photo 6529). The gully repair area north of Fill 7 does not exhibit any notable changes. The area has been dry so the straw bales have not "healed" the area yet. They appear to be placed and keyed in properly. A culvert under the road in this area is too shallow. NEC is responsible for ensuring adequate cover over all culverts within the permit area. Pond 6 was dry; the inlet channel rock check dams are stable. Rills are forming in the W -1 area northwest of Pond 6 between the ridge and the road (see photo 6530). Drainage from the undisturbed area east of Pond 6 has also formed a rill (see photo 6531). The rill connects with the pond's emergency spillway below. The rill must be repaired. NEC should check the pond designs and route this drainage into the pond if it has the design capacity to accept it (this is a small area). Rills are forming on the W -6 parcel near the pond clean -out area (see photo 6532). NEC cleaned Pond 8 last year. This two- celled pond had water in the first cell. Seeps or springs are likely feeding this drainage. Fill 8 appears stable. Pond 5 was holding water but not discharging at the time of inspection. The discharge weir has a small bullet hole in the bottom and needs to be repaired. Methane naturally bubbles up through the creek in this area. Gypsum crystals form a white crust on the stream bank. Signs and markers: A mine identification sign is displayed at the site entrance on Lorencito Canyon Road. The sign contains all of the information required under Rule 4.02.2. Perimeter markers were not found around Pond 5, 8 or 9. These markers should be replaced.