2013-10-29_INSPECTION - C1982056 (3)

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Phase I Bond Release Evaluation REGEI�� Foidel Creek SL -1, (Permit No. C- 1982 -056) 5/29/2013 CCU 2 9p1 `� Participants: VAS/00. Jerry Nettleton, Operator Representative Jason Musick, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) Spencer Shumate, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Jennifer Maiolo, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) I participated in a phase I bond release inspection for 14.3 acres of disturbance within the Foidel Creek Mine permit area. The Foidel Creek Mine is an underground coal mine permitted and operated by Twentymile Coal, LLC. (TC) and located in Routt County approximately 22 miles southeast of the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The specific area to which the proposed bond release request applies is T5N R87W portions of Sections 2, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 29. Land for which bond release has been requested is State and privately owned, and the coal was federally owned. OSM is a co -payee on the reclamation surety bond. TC has requested a phase I bond release in the amount of $347,892.15. DOGM administers the bond release process in part through the State- Federal Cooperative Agreement found at 30 CFR, Part 906.30. Prior to and after this evaluation I reviewed the bond release application (dated January 28, 2013) and other pertinent documents. We met with Jerry Nettleton on the morning of May 29, 2013. Jerry provided a brief overview by orienting the participants to the areas under consideration for bond release and briefing us on the area's mining and reclamation history. The weather was cloudy with a slight precipitation and the ground was wet during the on- the - ground inspection of the site. All areas to be inspected were accessible and visible. The inspection started at approximately 9:00 am. We then evaluated the EMD Vent Shaft Pad site, Fish Creek Tipple (FCT), 18 Right Vent Shaft Pad and the Topsoil Stockpile footprint area. BackfiWGrading All Sites We began each evaluation by walking through the reclaimed areas. During each walk, Jason Musick collected data at various contour elevations with a hand -held Trimble Yuma to ensure AOC (backfill and grading) had been achieved. At all the sites visited, final contour blended well with the surrounding landscape. Drainage Control Fish Creek Tipple Based on the on- the - ground inspection, drainage control has been achieved at each of the four sites requested for bond release. However, the west side of FCT Pad was evident that minor rilling had occurred. Monitoring/maintenance may be necessary in the future if rilling becomes more prominent. The FCT sedimentation pond also displayed minor rilling. There are two erosion control fabric lined ditches at this site (east and west of pond) and both were stable at the time of inspection. We discussed the heavy sediment buildup at the outlets of these two ditches