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June 21, 2012 C-1981-035/King Coal Mine MLT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />During the March 2012 inspection, it was noted that general springtime maintenance of the <br />ditches and culverts was needed at the King II site. <br /> <br />The culverts at the King I and King II facilities were each inspected during the current <br />inspection, and found to be clear of obstructions. King II drop inlets were protected with <br />wattles (Photo 1). Berms were repaired, weed skeletons had been removed from the ditches, <br />and riprap repaired where necessary. Maintenance of the features has been conducted in a <br />thorough manner, and the King I and King II sites appear to be prepared for the summer <br />monsoon cycle that will hopefully start soon. <br /> <br />All three sediment ponds were completely dry. GCCE conducts sediment removal <br />operations as necessary in order to maintain the required available capacity in the ponds. <br /> <br />ROADS Rule 4.03 <br />Construction 4.03.1(3) / 4.03.2(3); Drainage 4.03.1(4) / 4.03.2(4); Surfacing and Maintenance <br />4.03.1(5) and (6) / 4.03.2(5) and (6); Reclamation 4.03.1(7) / 4.03.2(7): <br /> <br />During the March 2012 inspection, it was noted that the hillside ditch of the belt portal access <br />road was poorly established due to sediment sloughing from the hillside and the <br />encroachment of vehicle tires. Repairs have been successfully conducted. The cross section <br />of the ditch has been reestablished, and excelsior wattles have been placed in the ditch to <br />reduce the flow velocity and trap sediment (Photo 2). <br /> <br />REVEGETATION Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> <br />Vegetative growth on areas seeded in previous years is relatively sparse due to the extremely <br />dry weather that has prevailed the past several months. Grasses are present, but not in the <br />height or quantity observed in other years. <br /> <br />The operator has an active weed control program at the site, and the weeds are generally non- <br />existent. During the walking inspection of the King II facilities, we did observe some <br />the access road to the belt portal bench. A number of musk thistle plants were coming up <br />near the northwest corner of the King II topsoil stockpile. Mr. Counts said they would <br />address the weeds at these two locations. <br /> <br />TOPSOIL Rule 4.06 <br />Removal 4.06.2; Substitute Materials 4.06.4(4); Storage and Protection 4.06.3; Redistribution <br />4.06.4: <br /> <br />The large topsoil stockpile at King II is shield-shaped, with a well-vegetated, rounded <br />surface. The pile is surrounded by a containment berm to prevent any loss of the topsoil <br />resource. <br /> <br />DOCUMENTS RECEIVED: <br />Mr. Bird provided preliminary compaction test results for the most recent placement of coal <br /> <br />mine waste at the approved refuse pile at the King I site. <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 8 <br />36 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page of <br /> <br /> <br />