_INSPECTION - C1980007 (19) - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 19,2013 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine JRS 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 were straw waddles placed along the reclaimed pad approximately 1/3 and 2/3 of the way up from the bottom. These waddles will help slow the flow of runoff and control erosion. There was a lot of good 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. There was a remaining topsoil pile on the north edge of the pad,which will need to be moved/used at some point. 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 -A note on the reclaimed E 1 drill pads. Most of these pads did not have a borehole location marker in place (unless otherwise noted). Markers will need to be set,as required by Rule 4.07.3(2). This will need to be done before the Division can propose a decision on the Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-05 application. HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1,4.05.2,4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7,4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage —Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6,4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: -Pond SG-1 was basically dry and not discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. The emergency spillway was stable. -The ditches along the Sylvester Gulch haul road were all clean and stable. There were no erosional problems noted in any of the ditch segments and all of the culverts were clear. The ditch segments in the Sylvester Gulch facilities area were also stable. There were new straw bales placed in some of the ditches to help control sediment and flow. These straw bales were functioning as designed. - Both cells in pond MB-5E contained water and were not discharging at the time of the inspection. The east cell contained water approximately six feet below the emergency spillway and the west cell contained water approximately 12-feet below the emergency spillway. The ponds are basically incised ponds. The pond inslopes were well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. The area around the inslopes was also stable. The emergency spillways were stable. Currently West Elk is not permitted to discharge from pond MB- 5E. Any discharge must be routed through pond MB-3. -Pond MB-4 is an incised,concrete pond at the loadout. The pond was stable at the time of the inspection. The pond contained water approximately two feet below the primary discharge pipe and was not discharging. The concrete presump was also stable and contained water approximately one foot below the primary discharge pipe (to the main pond). -The NSSA pond was dry at the time of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. The ditches in the NSSA area were all clean and stable,with no erosional problems noted. - The RPE pond east cell contained a small pool of water and the west cell of the pond was dry. The pond was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The ponds are incised,lined pond. The pond inslopes and surrounding area were well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. The east ditch along the RPE(to the Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 8 of 53