2014-10-21_REVISION - M1988044 (5)

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TR-07 MINING PLAN Integration of Mining with Reclamation Processes Mining and reclamation should be approached as if they are a single process. This approach usually produces the least amount of negative impact on the land as a result of the mining and usually produces a considerable savings in the cost of operations. By coordinating the two processes many reclamation steps can be implemented as a part of the mining process. Furthermore, when mining is implemented with a view toward eventually reclaiming the land, the cost of reclamation can be reduced. As a rule the most expensive part of mining and reclamation is the earthmoving. Revegetation, although a key and extremely important element in the reclamation process, is actually one of the least expensive parts of reclamation. Unfortunately, revegetation is also the step most likely to fail because of conditions that cannot be controlled. Stockpiling backfill materials as near the mining area as possible is key to reduction of reclamation costs as well as improving the ability to reclaim the land quickly. Stockpiling at a distance may be more convenient in some respects, but it also greatly adds to the cost of reclamation due to the need to haul the stockpiled material a longer distance. In planning a mining pit location the following layout considerations will be taken into account. 1. Because sand deposits on this land can be patchy, land beside mining areas sometimes do not contain mineable sand. To the extent possible, a backhoe will be used to define the mining area as well as possible. More important though is the identification of locations where no mineable sand exists so those areas, adjacent to mineable sand, can be used for stockpiling overburden and soils. Whenever possible, all stockpiling of backfill materials will occur on land adjacent to the mining area where no mineable sand exists. 2. In the case where the mining area is large enough that implementing the concept in item 1 above will not work, the mining process will be implemented in such a fashion that backfill material stockpiled on top of mineable sand will only have to be moved once to do the backfilling. 3. As a rule, freshly removed soil and overburden will not be stockpiled on top of replaced soil and overburden. Instead, when an area is backfilled it will be topsoiled and seeded at the next planting period. 4. In most cases, this process of stockpiling works best if the soil and overburden is stockpiled adjacent to the mining area AND parallel to the direction of mining. Stockpiling ahead of the operation (in an area that will be mined next) can be done, but greatly increases the cost of backfilling due to increased haulage costs. Stockpiling behind the mining operation should only occur with an initial cut into a new mining area. Coal Creek Sand Resource Amendment 3 (2005)- M-1988-044 Exhibit D Page 16