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M4. TMI states that overburden as well as excess spoil for the N Pit will be regraded <br />into the reclamation west of the pit and placed as fill in the L Pit. Associated updated <br />post -mining topography descriptions and maps were included in the submission. <br />However, as per the discussion with Trapper and the Division (11 May 2018), TMI <br />explained that additional excess spoil from the proposed N Pit will be placed within <br />the Utility Waste Disposal Area (ash pit). As per Rule 2.05.3(6)(b), descriptions, <br />including appropriate maps, prepared according to the standard of 2.10, and cross <br />section drawings, of the proposed disposal site and design of the spoil disposal <br />structures according to 4.09 are required. <br />A map showing location of the disposal area was included with Map M47A in the <br />submittal however, no cross section drawing of the disposal area are provided. A <br />post mining topo series was provided, the M12 series showed cross sections for <br />Nighthawk (N) Pit and Lancaster (L) Pit, and Map M14A provided the various cross <br />section diagrams for N and L pits. <br />21. Please provide cross section drawings for the excess spoil that will be placed <br />along the Utility Waste area. <br />Trapper Response to Comment 21: Ash pit cross-sections are enclosed as requested. Please note that <br />nowhere in the PR -9 Permit Application did Trapper state that 'Excess Spoil" was to be hauled from N Pit <br />and taken to the Utility Waste Area. Trapper plans on removing 50 to 60% of the N Pit boxcut material <br />with draglines and spoiling the material to the west of the boxcut. This material would be regraded into <br />the existing landscape, similar to historical dragline spoil boxcuts at Trapper. Approximately 40 — 50% <br />of the N Pit box cut material would be hauled with the truck and loader fleet to the Utility Waste Disposal <br />Area (ash dump) south of the N Pit boxcut area to assist with reclamation efforts there. The utility waste <br />currently is filling an area left between the dragline spoils to the south and a natural ridge to the nollh. <br />The additional truck and loader material from N Pit would be hauled to the Ash Dump and used to finish <br />filling the area between the dragline spoils and a natural ridge, and to create a "broader ridge feature" <br />above the utility waste footprint so that the requirement of not having a drainage fall within 50 feet of a <br />Utility Waste Disposal Area can be fulfilled. The material hauled from the boxcut would overlie areas of <br />previous ash disposal and provide fill material that would create positive drainage away from the ash <br />placement area. Trapper has never mentioned hauling this material to the "L" Pit Area as the current <br />distance is 2.6 miles, most of which includes a steep uphill climb with loaded trucks. This haul cycle <br />would not be economically viable for Trapper. <br />24 December DRMS: Trapper's response is adequate. <br />22. Please consider and discuss the possibility of utilizing this material to <br />mitigate the pre and post mining elevation difference in L pit cross section <br />E1, 441, 000, rather than creating excess spoil. (See adequacy question 20, <br />below.) <br />Trapper Response to Comment 22: Trapper does not consider the spoil being removed from the N Pit <br />boxcut as "Excess Spoil" but rather additional spoil. On page 3-49 of the Trapper Permit there is a brief <br />discussion concerning Excess Spoil. The second sentence of that discussion states, "Also, boxcut material <br />generated during the permit period is not considered excess spoil (refer to section 3.5.4) and can be used <br />where it occurs to achieve the approximate original contour." Trapper's opinion is that this is exactly <br />what is taking place in that the material is being utilized to create a landform that conforms to AOC, and <br />one that helps create a post mine drainage that reduces the potential of surface water to infiltrate into the <br />Trapper PR9 2"`' Adequacy Prepared by: R. Reilley, LISP, M.S. Page 10 <br />Date: December 2018 <br />