2011-10-13_INSPECTION - C1981038

Home Browse Search

October 4, 2011 C -1981 -038 /Bowie No. 1 Mine JJD Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 Page 3 of 7 West Ridge waste pile also had been recently cleaned out. The pond’s primary discharge pipe and the three emergency discharge pipes were clea r of debris. The pond embankment was moderately grassed and appeared to be stable. The two sediment ponds in series at the West Mine were dry as well. The pond embankments were moderately grassed and were stable. The discharge structures were in place and were functional. The sediment pond at the reclaimed run -of -mine coal stockpile area was dry. The primary discharge gate was closed and the riprapped emergency spillway was clear of any debris. The bin wall sediment pond at the unit train loadout was dry. The gate on the primary discharge pipe was in the closed position and there was no debris in the open channel emergency spillway. The bin wall structure was stable. The sediment pond at the partially reclaimed highway temporary coal stockpile area was dry . Ditches and culverts around the various mine site locations were in place and no problems were noted. At the East Mine, the operator has recently put in several cross ditches along the dirt road that will help greatly with minimizing road erosion. The r iprapped collection ditch at the East Mine reclaimed portal bench area was recently reworked. The sediment control system at the entrance to the East Mine was in place. The two collection ditches leading to the north side and to the south side of the sedi ment pond at the reclaimed run -of -mine coal stockpile area had sufficient capacity and had good vegetative linings. The central upland diversion system of ditches and culverts at the unit train loadout were functioning properly since irrigation water was f lowing. The upland diversion ditches and culverts at the sediment pond were in place, although no water was flowing. There was water flowing in the Farmers Ditch culvert that is located beneath the sediment pond, however. The collection ditch on the west e nd of the unit train loadout bench had sufficient capacity. PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES – Rule 4.10 and 4.11 Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: The old waste pile, located near bin wall ponds nos. 1 and 2, had a good vegetat ive cover and appeared to be stable. The West Ridge waste pile also had a good vegetative cover. The pile showed no signs of stability problems or erosional problems. The waste pile’s runoff collection system was in place. The operator had recently determi ned by surveying that the upland diversion ditch for the West Ridge waste pile had positive drainage so the ditch was not recut. ROADS – Rule 4.03 Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3) Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4) Surfacing and Maintenance4.03.1(5) and (6)/4.03.2(5) and (6) Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): The dirt road leading up to the reclaimed utility bench at the East Mine was in good condition. A good number of substantial cross ditches have been established across the road for erosion protection. T he road width had been narrowed from the entrance gate up to the reclaimed crusher/screener bench. The road leading to the old waste pile and bin wall pond no. 1 and 2 was passable. The same was true for the light use dirt road leading to bin wall ponds 3 and 4. The three short paved entrance roads at the unit train loadout were in good condition. The dirt entrance road at the