_INSPECTION - C1980007 ‎(6)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DRMS
• To: Kathy Welt
• Inspection Date: 10/24/2012
• Email Name: JRS
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

October 24, 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
R -Availability of Records N -Reclamation Success
R -Backfill &Grading N -Revegetation
N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence
N -Explosives R - Slides and Other Damage
N -Fish &Wildlife R - Support Facilities On-site
R -Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers
R -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site
N -Other N - Special Categories Of Mining
R -Processing Waste R -Topsoil
COMMENTS
This was a complete inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Kathy Welt of Mountain Coal accompanied me on 24 October 2012 and Jessica
Loveland (also with Mountain Coal)accompanied me on the afternoon of 24 October 2012 and all of 25 October
2012. The mine is actively producing coal,hauling refuse to the refuse pile and loading trains. The weather was
cool and overcast on both days of the inspection and there were snow showers on 25 October 2012.
AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS—Rule 5.02.4(1):
-All of the necessary records were in Kathy Welt's office in the main mine office building. Please see the
attached Availability of Records form at the end of this inspection for more detailed information.
BACKFILL and GRADING—Rule 4.14
Contemporaneous Reclamation 4.14.1;Approximate Original Contour 4.14.2;Highwall Elimination 4.14.1(2)(f);
Steep Slopes 4.14.2, 4.27,Handling of Acid and Toxic Materials 4.143; Stabilization of Rills and Gullies 4.14.6:
-West Elk has completed the reclamation on a number of longwall panel E1 methane drainage wells and pads.
The reclaimed MDW's include E1-45, E1-41.5, E1-30 (including a short road spur), E1-26.5, E1-15 and E1-8. All
of the wells have been sealed and marked as required. The pads were all stable and well graded and blended into
the surrounding undisturbed lands. The surface of the pads were left rough to help retain water and control
erosion. The regraded pads were all topsoiled, seeded and mulched(with the exception of portions of pad E 1-
26.5,which is on an active road). All of the stockpiled brush and trees that were grubbed prior to constructing the
pads has been scattered around each pad. Drainage on the pads has been reestablished. In particular,pad E1-30 is
in the head of a drainage. It was graded to allow runoff flow into the drainage. Several straw waddles have been
placed in the drainage to help slow the runoff and control erosion. Pad E1-15 is extremely steep and straw
waddles were placed across three small terrace benches to help control runoff and erosion. Overall,West Elk has
done a great job with the reclamation on these pads.
Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1
Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2
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