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New Horizon Mine 2 <br />In February 1993, Western Fuels - Colorado commenced surface mining operations at the New <br />Horizon Mine 2 block. The annual production was approximately 400,000 tons per year. <br />Historically, mining and reclamation activities were concurrent. Extraction of the coal resource <br />was completed in 2013. The northwestern area of the permit is awaiting final backfilling and <br />grading. The Morgan property is currently awaiting approval of a revised topsoil replacement <br />plan. Stockpiles of Morgan topsoil have been undisturbed since completion of the salvage <br />operations in 2012. <br />Topsoil salvaging depths and plans are detailed in section 2.04.9 and 2.05.4(2)(d) of the permit <br />application. Actual topsoil recovery was less than originally projected in portions of the original <br />(pre-PR-5) permit area, due to discrepancies found in the Peabody topsoil depth estimates. A <br />mitigation plan was approved by the Division and implemented by the mine in 1996. <br />Whenever possible, topsoil is live hauled to active reclamation areas. However, this cannot <br />always be accomplished (particularly in the case of acreage designated as Prime Farmland), and <br />some topsoil will be stockpiled. Stockpiled topsoil will be protected from wind and water <br />erosion by roughening and ditching around the pile, establishing an annual cover crop, or <br />establishing a perennial grass cover, depending on the length of time a stockpile will be in place. <br />Overburden is removed by a shovel and trucks after an area has been drilled and shot. An ANFO <br />slurry is the primary agent used in the blast. All shots are monitored with seismographs located <br />at structures nearest to the blast. Blasting schedules are published in the local newspaper. Most <br />blasting occurs mid -day early in the week. Daily notifications are made prior to each blast to <br />certain individuals who have requested this service. <br />The primary coal seam to be recovered is the Lower Dakota seam; however, the Upper Dakota <br />seam will be recovered if it is thick enough and of sufficient quality. Maximum overburden <br />depth will approach 120 feet. Excavations currently have a north -south orientation and will <br />progress westward for the remainder of the life of the mine. <br />Mining began along the eastern subcrop of the New Horizon Mine 2 area. A panel mining <br />method is used to develop the pits (see Map 2.05.2 -1). The panels vary in length, up to 3,500 <br />feet. The panel width will typically be 100 to 120 feet. The mine will occasionally have up to <br />two pits actively working in order to effectively mine the two seams. The overburden is <br />excavated using a shovel and trucks and then placed or pushed into an adjacent or nearby <br />mined -out pit. <br />The reclamation plan is designed to replace agricultural lands, cropland — irrigated alfalfa <br />hayland and irrigated pastureland where the landowner owns shares of the CCC Ditch. The <br />remaining areas will be planted to dryland pasture. It is anticipated that wetland vegetation will <br />establish in low spots and adjacent to impoundments on the reclaimed landscape, due to the <br />presence of water from irrigation runoff. Continued incidental use of the reclaimed landscape by <br />wildlife similar to that which occurred prior to mining is expected. <br />20 <br />