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Colowyo Coal Company L.P. <br /> Neilson Pit <br /> Since the water is alkaline, the pH is above 7, but rarely exceeding 8.4. Concentrations <br /> of heavy metals rarely exceed health limits, as stated in the USGS report. This has also <br /> been confirmed by the shallow groundwater monitoring performed since the Neilson Pit <br /> began operation. <br /> Conclusions <br /> The Neilson Pit has no single or multiple continuous geologic units in the mine that <br /> contains groundwater under unconfined or confined conditions. The only groundwater <br /> encountered is the discontinuous perched pockets of groundwater. This lack of <br /> groundwater, except for discontinuous perched groundwater pockets, encountered during <br /> mining precludes the necessity to monitor groundwater on a ridge top. Furthermore, no <br /> surface water rights will be impacted by mining of the Neilson Pit. <br /> 6.3.3.E Primary and Secondary Commodities <br /> The primary aggregate mined from the Neilson Pit is scoria. Colowyo uses the mined <br /> aggregate on the roads within Colowyo's coal mine. No secondary commodities are <br /> mined at the Neilson Pit. <br /> 6.3.3.7 Blasting <br /> No blasting will occur during mining for the purpose of extracting minerals from the <br /> Neilson Pit. <br /> 6.3.4 Exhibit D—Reclamation Plan <br /> The reclamation objective of Colowyo is to restore the mined pit to a land use capability <br /> which will, be equal to or better than that which currently exists. Prior to mining the <br /> Neilson Pit was a rock outcrop, however, after mining it will be regraded and will create <br /> a stable slope. As noted in Section 6.3.3.4, no topsoil was salvaged prior to mining, as <br /> there was none to be salvage, and mining occurs directly into an outcrop. Since there was <br /> not any topsoil present prior to mining, the reclamation plan will not include topsoil <br /> replacement for the post-mine condition of the Neilson Pit. <br /> The first objectives of the reclamation plan is to stabilize the slope, maintain hydrologic <br /> and vegetation resources. In general, the long term appearance and usefulness of the <br /> Neilson Pit will be similar to that which would have been encountered prior to any <br /> mining. <br /> The attainment of the reclamation goals will be satisfied by the implementation of the <br /> reclamation plan described below. <br /> (1) Extraction of the mineral resource; <br /> (2) Grading, and re-contouring of the surface once mining has ceased <br /> (3) Revegetation of the affected land to the pre-mining land use. <br /> 6 <br />