2013-10-29_INSPECTION - C1981010

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Mine Site Evaluation Mine Name: Trapper Mine RECEIVED Permittee: Trapper Mining, Inc. Permit ID #: C- 1981 -010 OCT 2 0 2013 Inspection Date: August 15, 2013 pijision of Reclamation, Inspection Type: Phase I Bond Release (424.2 acres) Mining & Safety Weather Conditions: Clear and calm, warm temperatures. Participants: Graham Roberts, Trapper Mining, Inc. Jared Ebert, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) Daniel MacKinnon, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) On July 18, 2013, DRMS informed OSM that it had found Trapper Mining's SL -14 bond release application complete. SL -14 requested Phase I bond release for 424.2 acres, and included a brief description, parcel reclamation histories, and maps of the acreage proposed for Phase I bond release consideration. Trapper Mining Inc. notified other pertinent parties (owners of surface area within and contiguous to the permit area, local governmental and planning agencies, and appropriate federal agencies) of this bond release inspection. OSM, DRMS, and the operator were the only parties that attended. Prior to and after this evaluation I reviewed the bond release application and other relevant files from both the OSM Western Region Office and the online permitting database maintained by DRMS. Federal, State, and private coal is mined under State and private land within these bond release parcels. OSM is a co -payee on the reclamation surety bond. Trapper Mining, Inc. has requested a liability release on these parcels; no reduction in the amount of the bond is sought with this bond release application. DRMS administers the bond release process in part through the State - Federal Cooperative Agreement found at 30 CFR, Part 906.30. Jared Ebert began the inspection on the morning of August 15, 2013 at 7:45am with a brief overview and by describing what to expect on this one -day inspection. He explained that we will be measuring elevation and topsoil depth on most of the parcels under Phase I bond release consideration. These two variables had already been measured at several parcels. At those locations we wouldtour the parcel and Jared would provide these data after the inspection. We began the inspection by signing into the site and were met by Graham Roberts soon after. We spoke again about evaluating the parcels' slopes, topsoil depths, and also discussed how drainage would be evaluated on this inspection (a visual inspection with accompanying sample drainage widths measurements). We proceeded at 8:15am to obtain an elevation correction point, located just outside the main offices, near the potable water well. The first parcel we inspected was A -B -10, and we first walked a drainage (Middle Pyeatt Drainage). Large rip -rap was present throughout this drainage. This drainage has some erosion (side- cutting), which I observed becoming more dramatic (more common, and deeper / wider sidecuts) as we walked down the channel. Dam- checks were present and most are in good working order, however some are experiencing significant sidecutting. We walked back up this