_INSPECTION - C1981012 ‎(6)‎

• Permit No: C1981012
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DRMS
• To: Ron Thompson
• Inspection Date: 10/16/2012
• Email Name: LDS
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

October 16, 2012 C-1981-012/New Elk Mine LDS
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
N -Backfill &Grading R -Revegetation
R -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence
R -Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage
R -Fish &Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site
R -Hydrologic Balance R - Signs and Markers
R -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site
N -Other N - Special Categories Of Mining
N -Processing Waste N -Topsoil
COMMENTS
A complete inspection was conducted by Leigh Simmons and Dan Hernandez of Colorado Division of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety, ("the Division"). Both Bobby Steele and Ron Thompson of New Elk Coal
Company(NECC) accompanied the inspection at different times.
The New Elk mine continues in Temporary Cessation,pending a contract with a customer. A very limited staff
remains on site in order to maintain the mine. A small amount of coal continues to be shipped; approximately 5
truck loads per day are sent to a cement plant in Lyons, CO.
The weather was clear, fine and dry throughout the inspection. NECC staff reported showers in the previous week.
AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS—Rule 5.02.4(1)
On the inspectors' arrival at the mine, Ron Thompson was away on vacation. His office (containing the records)
was locked and not readily accessible. Other mine staff were able to access the office the following day, and most
of the records were located during the morning. Some attention needs to be paid to the filing of records in order to
insure that they are accessible by visitors to the mine in the event that Ron is absent and unable to act as a guide.
In conversation, Rachel Ford said that NECC would be developing a database to hold all mine records,including
those of relevance to the Division. Read-only access to the database will be available to the public at a computer
terminal in a visitor area. The Division will follow the implementation of this project with interest over the next
few months.
EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE—Rule 4.09
Placement; Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization:
There was some evidence of erosion on the south side of the reclaimed DWDA which will need to be controlled
while vegetation becomes more established (see photo 27).
The newer DWDA to the east was appropriately drained and appeared stable and in compliance.
EXPLOSIVES—Rule 4.08
Distance Prohibitions 4.08.4;Warnings 4.08.4; Control of Adverse Effects 4.08.4
All explosives (and all of the permit data relating to explosives)have been removed from the site and are held by
TK Mining,who have previously handled explosive work for NECC but are no longer on contract.
Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2
Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2
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