2012-04-18_INSPECTION - C1980007 (2)

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April 10, 2012 C- 1980 - 007 /West Elk Mine JRS Inspection Topic Summary NOTE: Y= Inspected N =Not Inspected R= Comments Noted V= Violation Issued NA =Not Applicable N - Air Resource Protection R - Roads N - Availability of Records N - Reclamation Success N - Backfill & Grading N - Revegetation N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste N - Subsidence N - Explosives R - Slides and Other Damage N - Fish & Wildlife N - Support Facilities On -site R - Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On -site R - Other N - Special Categories Of Mining R - Processing Waste N - Topsoil COMMENTS This was a partial inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Robin Schiro, Larry Gillenwater, Earl Quesenberry and Mike Peacock of Mountain Coal accompanied me on the inspection. Zach Trujillo of the Division and Jon White of the Colorado Geological Survey were also present on the inspection. The main focus of this inspection was to inspect the slide remediation work completed at stack tub 2 and the haul road for the refuse pile east expansion (RPEE). The weather was warm and sunny to partly cloudy. Most of the snow has melted from the site and the ground was dry in most places but there was still some mud to contend with. HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage — Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: - Pond SG -I contained water approximately four feet below the emergency spillway but was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. Primary discharge is through a gated pipe that sits below the water level. The operator decides when the pond will be discharged and opens the gate. There is a question, however, regarding what the permanent pool elevation of the pond is. If MCC is not discharging the pond at or below this level each time they discharge, the pond will not have its designed capacity. MCC should put a marker at the permanent pool elevation to ensure the pond is discharged to this level. A simple painted line on the pond liner would be sufficient. - Both cells of Pond MB -5E contained water at a level approximately eight feet below the emergency spillway and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The ponds are incised ponds and they were stable at the time of the inspection. There was some sediment at the inlet of both cells of the pond. MCC should install a sediment level marker to indicate when the ponds need to be cleaned. Like pond SG -1, the primary discharge for both cells of pond MB -5E is through a gated pipe that sits below the water level. The operator decides when the pond will be discharged and opens the gate. There is a question, however, regarding what the permanent pool elevation of the pond is. If MCC is not discharging the pond at or below this level each time they discharge, the pond will not have its designed capacity. MCC should put a marker at the permanent pool elevation for each cell Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 10 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page 2 of 13