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Backfllin2 and Regrading <br />All affected lands within this bond release area were mined prior to August 3, 1977 and fall <br />within the pre -law category as outlined in Section III, Pre -Law Areas, Item No. 1 above. The <br />post- mining land use for the area is livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Based on a review <br />of the Annual Reclamation Reports of the area, the site is annually grazed in accordance with <br />the grazing schedule. <br />In review of the Proposed Decisions and Findings of Compliance for Seneca II Mine's bond <br />release applications SL -1 and SL -2, problems with the area of the old Wolf Creek Pit were <br />identified with regard to backfilling and grading and drainage reestablishment. In the <br />vicinity of the final pit, the land has been graded into a bowl shaped configuration, with the <br />Wolf Creek Pond situated at the bottom of the bowl. During the bond release inspection <br />associated with the Seneca II Mine SL -1 application, a water sample was collected from the <br />pond on August 11, 2006 by the Division and analyzed on -site for pH, conductivity, and <br />temperature. The impounded water presented a problem due to the acidity, with an average <br />pH of 3.53, average temperature of 22.5 C, and average conductivity of 325 umhos /cm. <br />In addition to the acidic water identified in the pond, the 2006 inspection identified numerous <br />rills above and north of an established shrub plot, and two large erosion gullies on either side <br />of the plot. The inspection identified spoil on the north side of the area that did not blend <br />well with the surrounding landscape. Due to the items identified, Seneca Coal Company <br />revised the Seneca II Mine permit to include a Wolf Creek Pre -Law Remediation Plan, which <br />became part of the Peabody Sage Creek Mine Permit as reference. The remediation plan can <br />be found in Tab 13, Attachment 13 -16 of the Seneca 11 Mine Permit. <br />The backfilling and grading of the area was successful, as the bond release area corresponds <br />favorably with the surrounding terrain. Minor rills and gullies were noticeable with no heavy <br />erosion noted, with the exception of the large drainage from the eastern portion of the area to <br />the impounded water located in the Wolf Creek Pond. Although this area displayed heavy <br />down cutting, the feature was stabilized as large shrubs have developed within the erosion. <br />Aerial photographs dating from 2007 to 2013 of the erosion feature were reviewed and a <br />determination was made that no further erosion was present and the feature had stabilized. <br />No off -site impacts were observed as the area of erosion has been contained within the bond <br />release area. <br />During the October, 2013 normal I &E inspection of the Peabody Sage Creek Mine, a water <br />sample was collected from two locations within the Wolf Creek Pond. The pH/conductivity <br />meter was calibrated at 08:00 on the morning of the inspection. The impounded water <br />displayed an average pH of 7.53, an average temperature of 7.5C degrees, and an average <br />conductivity of 2470 umhos /cm. <br />Cover and Diversity <br />All of the 68.79 acres requested for final bond release were mined and reclaimed prior to the <br />Peabody Sage Creek Mine Page 9 January 30, 2014 <br />Full Bond Release <br />