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June 18, 2012 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine JRS <br /> <br /> <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />YNRVNA <br />NOTE: =Inspected =Not Inspected =Comments Noted =Violation Issued =Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection R - Roads <br />RN <br /> - Availability of Records - Reclamation Success <br />NN <br /> - Backfill & Grading - Revegetation <br />NN <br /> - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste - Subsidence <br />NR <br /> - Explosives - Slides and Other Damage <br />NR <br /> - Fish & Wildlife - Support Facilities On-site <br />RN <br /> - Hydrologic Balance - Signs and Markers <br />RN <br /> - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />RN <br /> - Other - Special Categories Of Mining <br />RN <br /> - Processing Waste - Topsoil <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS <br /> <br />This was a complete inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of <br />Reclamation, mining and Safety. Robin Schiro accompanied me on the entire inspection and Mike Peacock <br />accompanied us in the morning (to the RPE and RPEE). The inspection started on the afternoon of 18 June 2012 <br />with a meeting with Kathy Welt regarding the upcoming PR-15. There was <br />conducted the SL-04 inspection, then it finished on 21 June 2012. The mine was actively producing coal, loading <br />trains and hauling refuse to the RPEE. The weather was hot and sunny and the ground was dry. <br /> <br />At the meeting, on Monday 18 June 2012, we conference called Dan Hernandez of the Division in for the <br />discussion on the pending PR-15. The question Kathy had was what materials would the Division be needing in <br />the revision. We discussed the items that would be required and also directed Kathy to review the materials <br />submitted and requested with PR-12 and PR-14. It is anticipated that PR-15 will contain additional permit acreage <br />(both federal and private), a new mine plan and proposed MDW pad, hole and road locations. To that end, the <br />following is a list of what the Division would need in the PR (this list is by no means an exhaustive list but <br />contains the major information the Division will need). Updated ownership and controller information, right of <br />entry information, maps (mine plan, permit area, land ownership, coal ownership, MDW, etc.), a reclamation cost <br />estimate, ground water and surface water baseline information, vegetation baseline information, updated <br />subsidence monitoring information and plan, an updated geology, hydrology, soils and vegetation description, fish <br />and wildlife information (including updated T&E species lists and surveys) and an updated cultural resources <br />inventory. Again, this is by no means an exhaustive list but it does hit the major areas. As stated in the meeting <br />and above, a review of past PR applications will provide good information regarding what the Division will <br />require for a complete application. <br /> <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS <br /> Rule 5.02.4(1): <br />- <br />Availability of Records checklist and notes at the end of this inspection for more detailed information. <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 12 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> <br />211 <br />Page of <br /> <br /> <br />