2011-10-06_INSPECTION - C1981044 (2)

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September 26, 2011 C -1981 -044 /Williams Fork Mines JRS Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 Number of Compl ete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 Page 3 of 7 HYDROLOGIC BALANCE (cont.) - Ponds 5 -P5, 5 -P6 and 5 -P7 are the series of ponds that treat the water pumped from the Mine No. 5 workings. These ponds all appeared to be full at the time of the insp ection and appeared to be discharging into the Williams Fork River. The pond embankments were all well vegetated and appeared to be stable. In past inspections it has been noted that there was a large burrow in the north embankment of pond 5 -P7 that need s to be filled in. It was difficult to determine if this burrow has been filled in but the 3Q11 sediment pond inspection report stated that it was. This will be checked in the Division’s next inspection. - Sediment Ponds 5 -P1, 5 -P2 and 5 -P3, which are al ong the rail loop, were all dry at the time of the inspection. All of the pond embankments were well vegetated and appeared to be stable. No erosional problems were noted on any of the embankments. - Sediment Pond 9A -P1, which is in the Williams Fork Str ip Pit, was dry at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment appeared to be well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. 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) Rec lamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): - The mine entrance road appeared to be stable and well maintained at the time of the inspection. The haul road on the west side of Colorado Highway 13 also appeared to be stable and well maintained. No erosi onal problems were noted on these road segments. RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: - There has been a Russian knapweed infestation on several areas of the mine. These areas include along the haul road on the west side of Colorado Highway 13, on the 5 -P5, 6 and 7 pond embankments, south of the coal stockpile area, behind the Mine No. 9 refuse pile and in the field by ponds SH -P1 and 2. The operator has reported that these areas were recently sprayed. It was difficult to determine the success of these spraying activities from the photographs. The areas will be looked at closely during the Division’s next inspection. - The reclaimed Williams Fork Strip Pit is well vegetated and stable. There were no erosional problems noted in the reclamation. T here were several patches of Russian knapweed noted in the pit (on the south side of the reclamation). These areas will be looked at during the Division’s next inspection. SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: - The mine No. 5A portal and facilities area app eared to be stable at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems were noted. It does appear that the rock dust tank, which was just north of the multiple services building, has been removed. Brian Watterson has stated that the operator planned to remove the tank and use it at the Twenty Mile Mine in Oak Creek. - The Mine No. 5 facilities area also appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. The area where facilities were removed remains stable. No problems were noted in the Mine No. 5 f acilities area. DOCUMENTS RECEIVED : None