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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PR-04, Colowyo Coal Mine C1981-019 27 August 2016 <br /> <br />3.3.2 Reclamation Plan <br /> <br />The reclamation plan for Colowyo is found in Sections 2.05.4 and 2.05.5 of the Colowyo PAP <br />(Volume 1 for the East Pit, West Pit, Section 16 Pit, Facilities Area and Gossard Loadout; <br />Volume 12 for South Taylor; and Volume 15 for the Collom permit expansion area). A partial <br />summary of this plan is given here, and more details are in Section B of this findings document. <br /> <br /> <br />Acreage Disturbed and Reclaimed <br /> <br />The following numbers are reported in the 2015 Annual Reclamation Report (ARR). <br />Approximately 4,777 acres have been disturbed at the Colowyo Mine, but none of this is in the <br />Collom area. Of the disturbed, approximately 2,559 acres have been backfilled and graded, and <br />approximately 2,445 acres have been topsoiled and seeded. These numbers include the 979.5 <br />acres that have been Phase III released (SL-05). <br /> <br /> <br />Roads, Ponds and Support Facilities <br /> <br />To provide access in the area for ranching purposes, the main Collom Haul Road from the <br />Gossard Loadout to the Collom Facilities area may be left in place after mining is complete. <br />Colowyo, as the land owner, will have to provide the Division with a letter documenting this <br />request, at the appropriate time, as stated in Volume 15, Rule 4. <br /> <br />All sediment control ponds and diversion ditches are to be removed during final reclamation of <br />the site. To support the proposed post-mining land use, small water impoundments (stock tanks) <br />will be left to encourage an even distribution of grazing over the reclaimed site and to enhance <br />the areas for wildlife. Water rights associated with these stock tanks will replace the existing <br />water rights associated with the stock ponds that currently exist on the site. <br /> <br />All mine support facilities are to be removed during final reclamation. Drilled holes and <br />underground openings will be closed when no longer needed for mine operations. <br /> <br />Backfilling and Grading <br /> <br />All highwalls will be eliminated. Spoil will be graded to slopes no steeper than three horizontal <br />to one vertical. Reconstructed stream gradients will approximate those of the pre-mining streams, <br />and stream channels will be restructured to complement regional stream patterns. Contour <br />furrows will be constructed to reduce erosion. Overall, Colowyo's reclamation plan will serve to <br />achieve contemporaneous reclamation and AOC. However, a variance to Rule 4.14.1(1)(c) was <br />granted during the initial permitting process to backfill as contemporaneously as practical in lieu