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frozen. Because water is pumped to PP -2 from other ponds and PP -2 receives very little direct <br />surface runoff, the water level is easily manipulated. <br />Approximately 190 gpm of water was being pumped from underground to the surface mine <br />dewatering pond system. BME adds a chemical flocculent to this water underground prior to <br />discharging to the surface. This pond system consists of 6 cells and a meandering lagoon in <br />series prior to discharging off -site. Because BME pumps water into this dewatering system a <br />total of approximately 24 hrs per week, this pond system has never discharged. A breach has <br />occurred between cells 3 and 4 which short- circuited the 3 1-d cell (see photo 10766). Because this <br />pond system is overdesigned and the pond system has never discharged off -site, this is not likely <br />to allow untreated water to leave the permit area. However, this breach should be repaired to <br />ensure the pond system functions as designed and permitted. Mr. Wanstedt indicated it will be <br />fixed on or around the following Monday. <br />Pond SS -1 was dry at the time of inspection. Pond SS -2 was holding water but not discharging. <br />The railroad pond was dry at the time of inspection. There was a small puddle in the railroad <br />sump (RRS -1). <br />Refuse Pile Pond 1 (RP -1) was dry at the time of inspection. RP -2/3 and the associated two <br />upper cells were holding water but not discharging. RP -4 and RP -5 were holding water but not <br />discharging. All embankments were stable and well vegetated and discharge structures were <br />intact. <br />Several SAE sites were inspected and found to be in good condition with no observable off -site <br />impacts. These included: explosives storage area, haul road blisters, rock dust storage area, non- <br />coal waste disposal area, water storage area, diesel storage site, cement injection site, nitrogen <br />plant, nitrogen injection sites, de -gas boreholes, mobile air quality sampling shed, and associated <br />topsoil stockpiles. A small amount of down- cutting has occurred at the outslope of the 10L vent <br />shaft SAE rock check dam (see photo 10767). This area should be monitored and may require <br />maintenance to ensure the prevention of off -site impacts. <br />The raw water lagoon was holding water and was partially frozen. All embankments were stable <br />and no issues were noted. <br />Topsoil (Rule 4.06): BME employs vegetation as sediment control on topsoil stockpiles. <br />However, vegetation establishment on several topsoil stockpiles is relatively poor and appears to <br />consist mainly of cheatgrass (bromus tectorum, a C -list noxious weed in Colorado, see photo <br />10768). In accordance with Rule 4.06.3(2)(a)(i), please establish effective non - noxious <br />vegetative cover on all topsoil stockpiles. <br />Signs and Markers (Rule 4.02): Mine identification signs were placed at all observed entrances <br />to the site from public roads. The explosives storage area, nitrogen injection sites, non -coal waste <br />dump, de -gas boreholes, and all topsoil stockpiles were marked appropriately. <br />