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December 7, 2011 C -1980 -007 /West Elk Mine JRS <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> <br /> Page 3 of 11 <br /> <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE (cont.) - The North Soil Storage Area (NSSA) sediment pond was dry at the time of <br />the inspection. The pond embank ment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. The <br />ditches around the LRP and RPE topsoil stockpiles were both well vegetated and clear. <br />- Pond MB -4 contained a small amount of water but was not discharging at the time of the ins pection. the pond <br />was stable and no problems were noted. <br />- The ditches and culverts along the main haul/access road from Highway 133 to the shop area were all clear and <br />stable at the time of the inspection. <br />- The ditches and culverts along the haul road up to the Sylvester Gulch facilities area were clear and stable. <br />- The ditch along the LRP was clean, stable and well vegetated at the time of the inspection. <br />- The ditches and culverts along the RPE were all clear and stable at the time of the inspection . The straw bales in <br />the ditch were all in a good state of repair and there was very little sediment behind them. <br /> <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLANCE : <br />- The operator was currently mining in longwall panel LWE -3, at approximately cross -cut 60. They were also <br />d oing development work in the headgate for longwall panel LWE -4, at approximately cross -cut 63. The <br />information contained on the West Elk operations map shows that they are mining within their approved mine plan <br />area, as shown on permit map 51 - E -Seam Pro jected Operations. <br />- The operator was also placing refuse on the RPE and working on the RPEE, as approved by various minor and <br />technical revisions. See the “Processing Waste” section below for more details. <br /> <br />PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES – Rule 4.10 and 4.11 ; Drainage Control; Surface <br />Stabilization; Place ment: <br />- The LRP was covered with some snow but appeared to be well vegetated and stable at the time of the inspection. <br />There were no erosional problems noted on the reclaimed outslopes of the pile. The pile is reclaimed with the <br />exception of the top, w hich is used as a storage and facilities area. <br />- The RPE had a large pile of uncompacted refuse that was waiting to dry before it is spread. The pile was well <br />compacted and well graded to allow for positive drainage and no water was pooling on the surfa ce of the pile. A <br />consultant was on site during the inspection doing compaction testing on the pile. The operator was working on <br />the RPE slide area. For more detailed information see “Slides and Other Damage” below. <br />- The operator was working on the RPE Expansion area during the inspection. Work was being done on the Phase <br />IA buttress as well as work on the upper portion of the haul road. (Note: the construction of and placement of <br />refuse behind the Phase IA buttress and colluvial fill was approved wit h Minor Revision 383). Chris Nyikos <br />estimated that they were approximately 70% complete with the Phase IA buttress and would be finished with it <br />soon. They would then begin building the Phase IA colluvial fill. The plan is to begin placing refuse on the RPEE <br />on Christmas Day. Once the Phase IA buttress is complete, they will continue to build the Phase I, II and III <br />buttresses until they are completed. The remaining three phases of buttress construction will take well over <br />100,000 cubic yards of rock a nd may require MCC to permit a borrow area (with a Technical Revision). Currently <br />they have the area up to the Phase III buttress stripped and ready for the construction. MCC is also constructing <br />the underdrain for the pile. This underdrain is in place for a portion of the Phase IA pile and it will be constructed <br />as the pile moves up the valley. MCC will need to provide photographic documentation of the underdrain <br />construction to the Division upon its completion. Based on the designs approved in MR -383 , MCC is approved to <br />place refuse on the RPEE to an elevation of 6,775 feet. The Division will monitor the refuse placement on