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of topsoil on all reclaimed areas. Please specify the range of depths to which topsoil will be <br /> replaced. <br /> RESPONSE: Newmont is committed to replacing no less than six inches of growth <br /> medium on reclaimed areas with a typical depth of growth medium ranging from 6 to 12 <br /> inches. <br /> 10. On page 12-1 of Volume I,the applicant states plant growth medium will be replaced on the <br /> overburden storage areas, select haul roads into the surface mines,certain surface mine <br /> backfills,the re-contoured valley leach facilities, support facility sites,reclaimed portal area, <br /> and other ancillary disturbance areas. Please summarize and specify the size of any areas that <br /> will not have plant growth medium replaced for reclamation and indicate these areas on the <br /> Exhibit F Reclamation Plan Map(Drawing F-1: Approximate Post Mining Topography). <br /> RESPONSE. Volume IV, Appendix 11, Drawing CCVSAII-5 specifies two locations <br /> that will not receive growth media. Due to final highwall steepness, approximately 254 <br /> acres in the Main Cresson Mine and 311 acres in the East Cresson Wildhorse Extension <br /> Mine will not receive growth media during final reclamation. See Drawing CCVSAII-5 <br /> in Appendix 11 of the Amendment 11 application for detail. <br /> 11. On page 12-1 of Volume 1,the applicant specifies that approximately 2.4 million cubic yards of <br /> growth medium will be required and approximate 3.21 million cubic yards of growth medium <br /> are available from the existing and future development areas.On page 12-1 of Volume I,the <br /> applicant specifies that there are 4,667 disturbed acres. If at least 6 inches of topsoil is returned <br /> to all disturbed lands,this will require approximate 3.77 million cubic yards.Please clarify this <br /> discrepancy. <br /> RESPONSE. Page 12-1 summarizes the estimated volume of growth media needed to <br /> complete reclamation of OSAs, select haul roads, certain surface mine backfills, the re- <br /> contoured SGVLF and AGVLF, support facility sites, reclaimed portal area and other <br /> ancillary disturbance. Nowhere on Page 12-1 of volume 1 does the text make mention of <br /> the 4,667 disturbed acres that will receive growth medium. Table ]-] on Page 1-5 of the <br /> Project Description does state that there will be roughly 4,677 acres of disturbance, but <br /> not all of these disturbed areas will receive "no less than 6 inches of growth medium"as <br /> part of final reclamation. As shown in response to comment 10, a total of 565 acres will <br /> not receive growth media. As a result only 3.31 million cubic yards are required to <br /> place at least six inches of topsoil for the rest of the area to be reclaimed. Based on <br /> information Volume IV,Appendix 11, Drawing CCVSAII-5;growth media stockpile <br /> 1 A/1 B is estimated to contain approximately 222,000 cubic yards of growth media thus <br /> bringing the total growth media volume available for reclamation to 3.34 million cubic <br /> yards. A corrected Table 5-4 is included in Attachment 2. <br /> 12. Please commit to replacing all stockpiled plant growth medium. If an excess of stockpiled plant <br /> growth medium is available,the Division suggest implementing a variable topsoil replacement <br /> project to mimic more natural and pre-mining conditions where at least 6 inches of topsoil will <br /> be replaced on the crests of hills and ridges and more would be replaced in the lower portions of <br /> hills and valleys. <br /> RESPONSE: Comment noted. Newmont will commit to replacing all stockpiled <br /> growth media during final reclamation. <br /> 13. On page 12-1 of Volume I, the applicant discusses that reclaimed slopes will be graded to <br /> 2.5H:1V or gentler unless steeper slopes are required to blend with surrounding topography or <br /> to create irregular landforms with a more natural appearance. Please clarify the maximum slope <br /> Page 7 of 14 <br />