_INSPECTION - C1980007 (19) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

June 19,2013 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine JRS pad was constructed on the Dry Fork Road and is split into two parts. The road,which is an existing USFS road, will remain following reclamation. The reclaimed pad was well blended with the surrounding undisturbed area. There was no cracking, sliding, settling or slumping noted on the pad at the time of the inspection. The site had positive drainage and there were no erosional problems noted on the reclaimed pad and no sediment was observed behind in the adjacent undisturbed areas. There was a lot of good first-year vegetative growth on the pad,with perennial grasses and forbs present. Although not a Phase I Bond Release criterion, all of the stripped topsoil has been replaced on the drill pad. No topsoil depth measurements were taken as all stripped topsoil on a drill pad is stockpiled on site and replaced on that site following backfilling and regrading. There was some Canadian thistle on the pad which will need to be sprayed. The two portions of the pad(on either side of the remaining road)were fenced with electric fence to keep cattle and wildlife off of the reclamation until it is further stabilized. Overall, the reclamation on this drill pad was excellent and completed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. - The drill pad for MDW E4-68 was constructed but the MDW was never drilled. The pad was well graded and stable and graded to blend well with the surrounding undisturbed areas. There was no cracking, sliding, settling or slumping noted on the pad at the time of the inspection. The site had positive drainage and there were no erosional problems noted on the reclaimed pad and no sediment was observed behind in the adjacent undisturbed areas. There was a lot of slash,from the original pad construction,that was placed on the pad to help control access and erosion. This pad was left in an extremely roughened state. There was a lot of good first-year vegetative growth on the pad,with perennial grasses and forbs present. There was some Canadian and musk thistle on the pad, which will need to be sprayed. Although not a Phase I Bond Release criterion, all of the stripped topsoil has been replaced on the drill pad. No topsoil depth measurements were taken as all stripped topsoil on a drill pad is stockpiled on site and replaced on that site following backfilling and regrading. This pad was not fenced. Overall, the reclamation on this drill pad was excellent and completed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. -The drill pad for MDW EI-48 is very steep. The pad was well graded and remained stable at the time of the inspection. The pad was well blended with the surrounding undisturbed areas. There was a small crack,which appeared to be a tension crack, along the lower fourth of the reclaimed pad. The crack went from approximately the midline of the pad south to the pad's edge. The crack was approximately six inches deep. The pad was not bad enough to consider excluding the pad from the SL-05 bond release but West Elk will need to continue to monitor it and perform any maintenance/repair work, as necessary. There were no other cracks, slumps or settling observed on this pad. The site had positive drainage and there were no erosional problems noted on the reclaimed pad and no sediment was observed behind in the adjacent undisturbed areas. There was a lot of good first-year vegetative growth on the pad,with perennial grasses and forbs present. There was some Canadian and musk thistle and hound's tongue observed on the pad,which will need to be sprayed. Although not a Phase I Bond Release criterion, all of the stripped topsoil has been replaced on the drill pad. No topsoil depth measurements were taken as all stripped topsoil on a drill pad is stockpiled on site and replaced on that site following backfilling and regrading. This pad was fenced with an electric fence to limit livestock and wildlife access until the pad is further stabilized. Overall,the reclamation on this drill pad was excellent and completed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. - The drill pad for MDW EI-52/53/55 is a large, steep pad along the Long Draw Saddle Road. This pad was well graded and stable at the time of the inspection. The site was graded to blend well with the surrounding undisturbed areas. The lower portion of this site had a slide,which was repaired with the installation of a French drain. The area appears to be stabilized but West Elk will need to continue to monitor this pad and make and repairs as necessary. There were no additional cracks, slumps or settling observed on the pad at the time of the Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 7 of 53