Division of Mining & Reclamation
1101 George Kostas Drive
Logan, WV 25601
Phone: (304) 792-7250
FAX: (304) 792-7258
Joe Manchin III, Governor
Randy C. Huffman, Cabinet Secretary
www.wvdep.org
Logan Region #5
Pre-Inspection Report
Company Name
Consultant Name & Phone Number
Facility Name
Application Type
Permit Number
Date
Time
General Location
Type of Operation
Coal River Mining, LLC.
Jim Smiley (P&S ENG) 606-673-4413
Mine No.7
SMA
S-5016-09
02/4/10
0900
1.5 miles NW of Nellis. Boone County
Surface Mine
DEP Representatives Present:
Dave Wagner- Engineer
Tracie Kitchen- Geologist
Tom Satterfield- Biologist
Eric Gladwell- ERS I
John Damron- Environmental Inspector
Tim Justice – ERS III
Company Representatives Present:
David Bradford- VP of Technical Operations for Coal River Mining, LLC.
Jim Smiley- P&A Engineering Co.
George Grubbs- Coal River Mining, LLC.
Others Present:
1
General Information (Location, Mining Methods, Coal Seams, etc.):
Coal River Mining, LLC. is proposing a 666.71 acre surface mine (Mine No.7)
located 1.5 northwest of Nellis in the Peytona District of Boone County. The method
of mining will be steep slope area surface mining in the Lower Coalburg, Coalburg,
Stockton, Clarion and 5-Block seams of coal and all associated splits and rider
seams of coal. The proposed operation will discharge into unnamed tributaries
of/and Jimmy Fork, unnamed tributaries of/and Opossum Gap Fork of Jimmy
Fork, Dave Fork of Wilderness Fork, unnamed tributaries of/and River Fork, all of
Fork Creek; and unnamed tributaries of/and Mick Fork of Stonecoal Branch,
unnamed tributaries of/and Stonecoal Branch, all of Brush Creek; and unnamed
tributaries of/and White Oak Branch; all of the Big Coal River of the Kanawha
Site Conditions (i.e. slopes, wetlands, parks, historical lands, homes, structures,
cemeteries, public roads, etc.):
Site conditions indicate steep slope areas comprised of unmanaged forestland with
no known public or private cemeteries, Indian burial grounds, or other known areas
where human bodies have been interred located in or within 100 feet of the
proposed mining area. Some of the areas such as the spoil disposal area will be
located within pre- law mining areas. A pre-law impounding structure that appears
to have been constructed from mine refuse/red dog materials exists in Mick Fork of
Stonecoal Branch along with access roads and is to be reclaimed with spoil from the
proposed Mine No.7 in conjunction with the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML). The
existing impounding structure contains surface water from unnamed tributaries
and old pre-law underground mine seeps/iron deposits believed to be from the
Cedar Grove seam of coal.
The applicant has indicated that there are no known or probable cultural, historic
or archeological sites listed or eligible for National Register of Historic Places within
the proposed permit area. No part of the proposed permit is adjacent to the
boundaries of a National Park System, National Forest, National Wildlife Refuge
System, National System of Trails, National Wilderness Preservation System,
National Wild and Scenic River System, and/or National Recreation area.
The applicant has also indicated that No Public Roads are to be affected.
2
Pre & Post Mining Land Uses:
The proposed permitted area is comprised of unmanaged forestland and has been
used for oil and gas exploration, wild life habitat with some areas showing evidence
of historical mining. The applicant has indicated that due to the type of soils
present, the steep slopes and the existing vegetation, that the highest and best
utilization of the permitted area would be forestland or wildlife habitat. The
proposed post mine land use will be forestland. See attachments F-2 and F-4 in the
application.
Excess Spoil Disposal Plans:
The excess spoil for the proposed Mine No.7 is to be deposited into a pre-law mined
area located in Mick Branch of Stonecoal Branch near Nellis. The applicant is
proposing to reclaim an existing pre-law abandoned impounding structure as part
of a West Virginia Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) project in which the existing prelaw impounding structure will be breached, and eliminated, thus eliminating any
remaining hazardous conditions. The project will be controlled by a series of
sediment ponds referred to as Pond Nos. 1, 1A and 1B. This phase of construction is
to begin before the actual mining is to commence. A durable rock fill designed with
a total fill volume of 42,734,179.44 cubic yards is to be constructed on the pre-law
site for the proposed Surface Mine No.7.
See attachments R-3 in the application for details
Mitigation Plans:
The applicant has advised that no mitigation is proposed due to a No Impact
Determination, however, the applicant is currently working on a No Cost Reclamation
Project with the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) which is to be comprised of installing
wet seals at pre-law mine openings in Mick Branch, reclaim the existing pre-law Mick
Branch impounding structure, install a wooded wetland area, provide stream creation and
properly design drainage structures ( pipes and collection boxes) in Stonecoal Branch
Transportation Plans:
This application is proposing five primary roads that will be constructed and maintained
as part of the mining activity. The road construction is to be done in accordance with
Section Q. See attachment Q-1 and Section Q of the permit application. Coal is to be
transported from the facility to the Fork Creek Preparation Plant.
3
Geologic / Hydrologic information:
Coal seams to be mined are the No.5 Block, Clarion, Stockton Rider, Stockton,
Lower Stockton, Coalburg and Lower Coalburg seams of coal. As indicated in the
application, the property to be mined has been explored by core drilling. Testing on
core samples include ABA, Total Se, Total S and Sulfur fractionation.
Total selenium results from test borings analyzed indicated a few concentrations
exceeding 1 mg/Kg per foot of strata. Concentrations exceeding the MCL are
presented in Attachment I-9D (2). These materials are to be handled in accordance
with the toxic materials handling plan in Section O-8.
See Attachments I-11 and O-8 in the application.
According to the applicant, the proposed operation is not expected to diminish or
interrupt the quantity of either surface or groundwater. No surface water is
currently being utilized for domestic, agricultural or industrial purposes. There is
also no groundwater users reported within the permitted area, however, the
application does indicate groundwater users located within ½ mile blasting radius.
See Section J-6 of the application.
Drainage and Sediment Control Plans:
Drainage control for the proposed operation is to consist of sediment ditches. On-bench
sediment ditches will be used to control mine disturbances. In addition, Pond Nos. 1, 1A
and 1B will be used to control disturbances at the Mick Fork (AML) pre-law
impoundment reclamation project.
See Section P of the application.
NPDES Information:
Discharges from the proposed Mine No.7 will be monitored via WVNPDES Permit
WV109970 located in Section K of the application. The permit application has been
submitted and has not been drafted at the present time. The permit writer was not present
at the pre-inspection.
Blasting Plans / OEB Issues:
A blasting plan for the proposed Mine No.7 has been submitted in Section T of the
application.
4
Subsidence Control Plan: N/A
Waivers / Variances:
The applicant is requesting a topsoil substitute, contemporaneous reclamation variance
and a waiver to mine within 100 feet of a stream.
See Section L attachment in the application.
Fish & Wildlife Information:
The application has provided general overview of the fish and wildlife resources
associated with the proposed mining area and have stated that upon numerous
reconnaissance surveys, no endangered or threatened species of plants, animals, or
habitats of such species were found to exist within the proposed or adjacent permit areas.
See Attachment H-1 of the application.
I & E Concerns:
Environmental Inspector John Damron has expressed concerns to the applicant regarding
the providing of final re-graded sediment control within 1000 feet or less of the active
mining pits and a concern of where suitable material will be extracted from for the lining
and preparation of the three (3) stormwater ponds associated with the reclamation of the
Mick Fork pre-law impoundment structure. The applicant has advised that this would be
under the guidance and conditions of a stormwater permit.
Special Conditions, Potential Adverse Environmental Impacts:
The proposed permit application has the potential for environmental enhancement in the
Mick Fork and Stonecoal Branch watersheds. As indicated in the above sections, the
applicant is proposing to work with the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) to reclaim the
existing pre-law impounding refuse structure located in Mick Fork of Stonecoal Branch
and is located upstream of a residential area. Other enhancements include but are not
limited to 1750 feet of stream creation, a wooded wetland area and a designed collection
system in Stonecoal Branch.
Additional / Miscellaneous Information: N/A
5
Conclusion / Findings:
In conclusion, the on-site pre-inspection of the proposed 666.71 acre Mine No.7
located 1.5 miles northwest of Nellis in the Peytona District of Boone County
appears to be consistent with the mining application as proposed once all
corrections and concerns have been addressed. The applicant is proposing to
reclaim a pre-law mining area with existing hazardous conditions along with
providing environmental stream enhancements to the Mick Fork and Stonecoal
Branch watersheds in conjunction with working with the Abandoned Mine Lands
(AML) program, thus utilizing a pre-disturbed, pre-law mined area for spoil
placement.
Attachments / Photographs:
Photo No.1 Viewing south across CR-1 at mouth
of Stonecoal Branch at Nellis. Site of proposed drainage
crossing. 2/4/10
6
Photo No.2 – Mick Br. Site for proposed Pond
Nos. 1, 1A and 1B. 2/4/10
Photo No.3 – Mick Br. Site for proposed pond areas.
2/4/10
Photo No.4- Mouth of Mick Fork of Stonecoal
Br. 2/4/10.
7
Photo No.5-Pool area of abandoned Mick Br
Impoundment. 2/4/2010.
Photo No.6. View of upstream face of abandoned
Mick Br. impoundment. 2/4/10
8
Photo No.7- Viewing North Side of pool area
Depicting flagged area of Cedar Grove Mine Seep. 2/4/10.
Photo No.8-View of Cedar Grove Fe seep @
south side of Mick Br. abandoned impounding Pool Area. 2/4/10.
Photo No.9-Fe Seep from Cedar Grove Mine
discharging into Mick Br. abandoned impoundment.
Located on south side of pool area. 2/4/10.
9
Photo No10-Upstream Mick Branch above abandoned
impoundment. 2/4/10
Photo No.10-View above the abandoned Mick Br.
impoundment viewing down Mick Br. (easterly direction).
Photo taken from access road located behind the abandoned
impoundment. 2/4/10
10
Photo No.11-View of Proposed Wooded Wetlands
Area in Mick Br. of Stonecoal Br. Located below existing
Mick Br. abandoned impoundment. 2/4/10.
11