2013-08-26_ENFORCEMENT - C1981012

Home Browse Search

July 23, 2013 C- 1981- 012/New Elk Mine LDS should all be cleared to ensure that they continue to function. As noted in the inspection report of April 29, 2013, the C16 system of culverts is not an effective design. The system is due to be replaced; the re- design will require a technical revision. An unidentified culvert outlets at the outlet of C16; it was not clear where the inlet is. The culvert should be identified or removed. • The ditch south of the raw coal stockpile area (D22) was ill- defined; culvert C 17B does not exist; C 17A was clear, but partially backed up with water; the downstream section of D22 had filled in somewhat, preventing C 17A from draining; C 17 had accumulated sediment — it is very long and may be difficult to clean; C19 had accumulated sediment; C32 was clear. This system should be corrected on map 13 when it is redrawn. D22 should be graded, and C17 and C19 should be flushed of accumulated sediment. Since the cleaning of C19 was an item that was identified in the inspection report of April 29, 2013, and is not the subject of a permitting action, the Division finds that this is a violation for failure to maintain culverts in accordance with the approved design. This is discussed further in the ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS section of this report. • Pond 6 had not yet been lined. No problems were observed and there was plenty of freeboard. Pond 7 was holding water, but not discharging, since the primary spillway gate valve was shut. The embankments and spillways were in good order. Although the level of the pond was above the height of the inlet to the primary spillway, Mr Thompson had found that water samples exceeded the Total Suspended Solids standard for the NPDES permit. Mr Thompson was waiting for the delivery of a flocculent that had been ordered; he planned to re- circulate the water in the pond, treating it with the flocculent, before testing again, and hopefully discharging. He expected to be able to discharge the pond before August 2, 2013. • Culvert C20 was clear, but backed up with water due to the high level of pond 7. • The berm at the eastern end of the SAE south of pond 7 was in good shape, and the silt fence was performing well. The boundary of this SAE does not match that shown on map 13. The boundary should be corrected when the map is re- drawn. • The clean water ditch south of the SAE had been re -cut and was well defined between culvert C48 and the concrete buttressed "railroad culverts ". • The surface water scheme around the silos and the Bates portals is the subject of a re- design, which will be handled as part of TR68. Culvert C59 will be an important component of the design; its inlet is east of the silos and its outlet is into ditch D24A. The long -term plan is to build a concrete wall against the clean coal stockpile, to aid ditch maintenance. Steps have been taken to avoid the risk of offsite impacts while the revision is in progress and west of the silos a low spot had been filled in and a drainage ditch cut which had greatly improved conditions on the ground. • Culvert C31 was good; drop inlet 3 could be cleaned up, but was clearly functional; C61 was partially blocked at the outlet; the ditch below was partially filled in; C 12 was good; D23 was good. C61 and the ditch below its outlet should be cleared. • As previously noted in the inspection report of April 29, 2013, an unidentified culvert outlets into drop inlet 3. The culvert should be identified or removed. • Culvert C 11 was completely obscured at the inlet; C12 was clear at the inlet. C11 should be cleared. • Drop inlet 1 was functional, but is mis- located on map 13; in fact it is at the junction of C12 and C33. The Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 Page 9 of 29