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wide. The mine will occasionally have up to two pits actively working in order to effectively <br /> mine the two seams. The mine is currently bonded to have a pit disturbance of 269 by <br /> 2500'. Mining will generally progress east to west with the long axis of the pits generally <br /> north to south. The overburden is excavated using dozers and a shovel and trucks and then <br /> placed or pushed into an adjacent or nearby mined-out pit panels, with the exception of the <br /> initial cut, which was placed adjacent to the pit onto land designated as a temporary <br /> overburden stockpile (see Map 2.05.3-1). <br /> During overburden removal operations, some selective handling of material will be <br /> performed based on chemical and physical core data contained in Section 2.04.6, Geology <br /> Description, and discussions presented in Section 2.05.4(2)(d), Topsoil (Redistribution) of <br /> the permit application. <br /> Following recovery of the lower Dakota coal seam, the pit will be backfilled to approximate <br /> original contour. Overburden testing will be done to ensure that acid or toxic forming <br /> overburden is not placed within four feet of the surface and areas retreated as necessary. <br /> Topsoil will then be replaced in approximate thicknesses of 1.0 feet on dryland pastures and <br /> 1.5 feet on irrigated pastures, dependent upon the actual amount of topsoil recovered. The <br /> areas will then be seeded and irrigated for pasture establishment. <br /> Operations on Prime Farmland <br /> Originally,when Peabody Coal operated the Nucla Mine, they had identified approximately <br /> 15 acres in the southeast portion of the New Horizon Mine 2 permit area as prime <br /> farmland. After an extensive review by the Natural Resources Conservation Service <br /> (NRCS),Western Fuels-Colorado, and the Division,a determination was made that the area <br /> classified as prime farmland was in error. The area has now been reclassified as irrigated <br /> cropland, however, the land itself was reclaimed to prime farmland standards as far as <br /> topsoil handling and depths are concerned. <br /> Water Rights and Usaee <br /> The water rights, usage and augmentation plan is presented in Section 2.05.6(3) of the <br /> permit application. There are 11 surface water rights which have the potential of being <br /> impacted by Western Fuels operations at New Horizon Mine 2. These are upgradient of <br /> Sediment Pond 007 at the site. There are 29 water wells adjacent to the mine sites. Of <br /> these,just two, W-009 and D-041 on Figure 2 of Tab 16, could be impacted by future mining <br /> activities at the New Horizon 2 site. These two wells are 150 feet or less deep and derive <br /> their water from near surface aquifers. At the end of five years of operation, Western Fuels <br /> estimated that drawdown might be one foot within a 0.7 mile radius of the center of the <br /> New Horizon 2 pit. Western Fuels proposes, with owner consent, to monitor these wells to <br /> detect any changes in their hydrologic conditions. <br /> Western Fuels-Colorado will use the following alternative water sources to mitigate any <br /> ground or surface water right impacts. Western Fuels has available 114.5 acre-feet of <br /> surface water, which is a consumptive use credit associated with Western Fuels' ownership <br /> of 27 shares of the Colorado Cooperative Company (CCC). Western Fuels has an absolute <br /> 11 <br />