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January 2,2013 C-1996-084/Lorencito Canyon Mine LDS <br /> Inspection Topic Summary <br /> NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br /> N -Air Resource Protection N -Roads <br /> N -Availability of Records N -Reclamation Success <br /> N -Backfill& Grading N -Revegetation <br /> N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence <br /> N -Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage <br /> R -Fish&Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site <br /> R -Hydrologic Balance R - Signs and Markers <br /> N -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br /> N -Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br /> N -Processing Waste N -Topsoil <br /> COMMENTS <br /> A partial inspection was conducted by Leigh Simmons and Dan Hernandez of Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety,(the Division).Bobby Steele of New Elk Coal Company(NECC)accompanied the inspection. <br /> The weather was clear,fine,dry and cold throughout the inspection.A little snow was on the ground. <br /> As described in the inspection report for New Elk mine,NECC is operating with a skeleton staff as it attempts to <br /> navigate a delicate financial situation.The Division is sensitive to this,but must ensure that NECC meets its <br /> maintenance obligations at the Lorencito Canyon site.Lorencito Canyon is a very large site with perennial <br /> challenges concerning the establishment of vegetation and the control of erosion caused by overland flow. It is <br /> critical that timely intervention occurs to prevent small"maintenance issues"growing to the point where the mine <br /> drifts out of compliance. <br /> FISH and WILDLIFE—Rule 4.18: <br /> The measures taken by the operator to mitigate short term effects to wildlife and wildlife habitat(e.g.the rock pile <br /> "marmot hotels")remain in place and appear to be effective. In addition,the site continues to be attractive to <br /> animals which have not been explicitly catered for; for example a herd of deer were observed on the flat area <br /> above pond 5. <br /> HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 <br /> Drainage Control 4.05.1,4.05.2,4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5,4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, <br /> 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water <br /> Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage—Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6,4.05.9; Stream <br /> Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> The concrete culvert under the main haul road through the site was clear,as was the next culvert to the west(see <br /> photos 2& 3). <br /> A large gully in the same area(SW of the "knob"of high ground)needs to be repaired and the protective straw <br /> bales need to be replenished(see photo 4). <br /> The culvert to the north of the vegetation reference area was initially in the same state as noted in the October <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 5 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> Page 2 of 9 <br />