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September 13, 2012 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine JRS <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y= Inspected N =Not Inspected R= Comments Noted V= Violation Issued NA =Not Applicable <br />R - Air Resource Protection <br />R - Roads <br />R - Availability of Records <br />N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Backfill & Grading <br />N - Revegetation <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - Explosives <br />R - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Fish & Wildlife <br />R - Support Facilities On -site <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />N - Signs and Markers <br />R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Support Facilities Not On -site <br />N - Other <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />R - Processing Waste <br />R - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <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. Kathy Welt and Jessica Loveland of Mountain Coal accompanied me on the <br />inspection. The mine is actively producing coal, hauling refuse to the refuse pile and loading trains. The weather <br />was warm and sunny and the ground was mostly dry, despite the recent heavy rains. <br />AIR RESOURCE PROTECTION — Rule 4.17: <br />- There was no problem with fugitive dust on either the haul road to the Sylvester Gulch facilities area, the haul <br />road to the RPEE or around the lower RPE area. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS — Rule 5.02.4(1): <br />- All of the necessary records were available in a notebook and file drawer in Kathy Welt's office (in the main <br />West Elk mine office). Please see the Availability of Records form at the end of this inspection report for more <br />detailed information. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.053; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, <br />4.05.6, Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2, Ground Water <br />Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage — Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; <br />Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />- Pond SG -1 was almost dry and was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The embankment was well <br />vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. The tree that was on the embankment (and noted in <br />past inspection reports) has been removed. The emergency spillway is an open, riprapped channel. The spillway <br />was stable. <br />- The RPE ponds were basically dry at the time of the inspection. West Elk was pumping the remaining water <br />from the east pond so the ponds can be cleaned. The pond embankments were well vegetated and stable and no <br />erosional problems were noted. <br />- Pond MB -3 contained water at a level approximately five feet below the discharge pipe and was not discharging <br />at the time of the inspection. West Elk was pumping the remaining water into pond MB -5E so the pond can be <br />cleaned. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Page 2 of 12 <br />