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June 26, 2012 C- 1980 - 007 /West Elk Mine MLT <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y= Inspected N =Not Inspected R= Comments Noted <br />V= Violation Issued NA =Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection R - Roads <br />N - Availability of Records N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Backfill & Grading <br />R - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Explosives <br />N - Fish & Wildlife <br />N - Hydrologic Balance <br />N - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />R - Other <br />R - Processing Waste <br />N - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />R - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Support Facilities On -site <br />N - Signs and Markers <br />N - Support Facilities Not On -site <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This was a partial inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the Division <br />on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. The primary purpose of the inspection was to observe on the ground <br />the progress being made by Mountain Coal Company in the construction of the RPE East coal <br />mine waste disposal area. This inspection serves as a supplement to the Division's May 21, 2012 <br />Aerial Inspection of the RPE East and RPE piles. Skies were partly cloudy; conditions were hot <br />and somewhat muggy. <br />I arrived at the West Elk offices at 2:00 p.m., and was greeted by Kathy Welt, Environmental <br />Engineer III. Ms. Welt briefly described potential modifications to the RPE East design that are <br />currently under consideration. Specifically, she said that design and construction of the rock toe <br />buttress may be broken down into a smaller next step, e.g. Phase IB. Ms. Welt introduced me to <br />Weston Norris, Manager of Engineering and Environmental Affairs. Mr. Norris was previously <br />at Arch Coal's Sufco Mine in Utah. Michael Peacock, P.E., escorted me to the field to observe <br />operations at the RPE East. The inspection concluded at 4:00 p.m. <br />EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE — Rule 4.09 <br />Placement; Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization: <br />• An excavator (track hoe) was in the process of digging the eastern clear water diversion ditch <br />on the slope above the RPE East valley (Photo 1). The approved design originally called for <br />establishment of the ditch at a lower elevation, but MCC found conditions on the ground to <br />be prohibitive (geology and steep slopes prevented safe access). <br />Mr. Peacock stated that during the spring of 2012, a slip occurred within the native colluvium <br />situated up the valley from the RPE buttress and the compacted refuse. We observed an <br />excavator and D -10 bulldozer removing that material and placing it into articulated haul <br />trucks. The trucks then transported this material to the site of haul road construction <br />activities above and immediately west of the RPE East buttress. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 13 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 2 of 6 <br />