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October 14, 2011 C -1981 -012 /New Elk Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br /> <br /> Page 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES – Rule 4.10 and 4.11 Drainage Control; Surface <br />Stabilization; Placement: <br /> TK mining is preparing the RDA for additional material placem ent. A portable conveyor extension has <br />been set up to convey refuse material from the end of the fixed conveyor to areas further to the north. The RDA <br />has been graded to permit runoff to drain to the collection ditches. A ramp has been graded to provide access and <br />a working area for the portable conveyor. This ramp crosses the collection ditch on the east side of the RDA. A <br />culvert under this ramp is designed to allow collection ditch runoff to drain to the pond. Material had been pushed <br />over the west side of the culvert. During the inspection TK Mining mobilized a backhoe to clear the outlet (west <br />side) of the culvert. <br /> <br />The focus of this inspection was to observe the area being proposed for RDA expansion. The proposed area is the <br />drainage to the eas t of the existing RDA and is an undisturbed steep south facing drainage. A consultant, Mr. Jim <br />Nyenhuis, Soil Scientist , was on site collecting baseline topsoil data. He discussed his sampling plan and typical <br />section profile locations with the inspector . His sample locations and in i tial descriptions based upon topsoil <br />horizon designations were in agreement with Division requirements for topsoil baseline delineation . <br /> <br />The inspection continued by walking up the drainage of the undisturbed area. 4 seep lo cations were encountered. <br />The area is steep with a Pinyon/juniper/mountain mahogany/oakbrush community. <br /> <br />TOPSOIL – Rule 4.06 Removal 4.06.2; Substitute Materials 4.06.4(4); Storage and Protection 4.06.3; <br />Redistribution 4.06.4: <br /> NECC had a soil contracto r on site to define and describe soils in the area to the east of the RDA for <br />baseline data for future expansion of the RDA to the east. Jim Nyenhuis of Cedar Creek Associates was the Soil <br />Scientist collecting the baseline data. <br /> <br />Mr. Nyenhuis is manually collecting soil samples to 6 feet depth. One represent a tive sample will be coll ected for <br />each site or soil type/association . Cedar Creek Assoc. will also collect baseline vegetation data for the proposed <br />RDA expansion area. The inspection proceeded to w alk north along the drainage in the area east of the current <br />RDA. Several seeps were encountered within the drainage as the inspection progressed up in elevation. Cedar <br />Creek Assoc. finds that there are represent a tive soil profiles along the access road to the RDA of the Soil series <br />encountered in the proposed RDA expansion area, limiting the need to dig soil pits. The Division agrees that if <br />th ere are existing profiles avail able for all the soil types/associations, new pits would not need to be excavate d. <br /> <br /> <br />DOCUMENTS RECEIVED <br />OTHER (SPECIFY) <br /> <br />