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Elk Creek Mine (C-1981-022) MT-8 <br /> TR-76 allowed for development of the methane resource in the sealed mine workings, on privately <br /> owned land that had already been disturbed by mining activity. <br /> Work began in October 2015 to reclaim the mine. The portals and vent shafts were permanently <br /> sealed by the end of 2015, and major structure demolition and removal was completed by the end of <br /> 2016. <br /> Given that mining operations on the site have been ongoing since 1902, much of the disturbance <br /> associated with the mine was caused prior to the effective date of the Surface Mining Control and <br /> Reclamation Act of 1977 and the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. Baseline <br /> environmental factors were not measured and no topsoil was salvaged prior to the disturbance. <br /> Disturbances made following the effective date of the Act have been permitted and conducted in <br /> compliance with the Act and Regulations; (these include the Hubbard Creek Ventilation Fan No. 2 <br /> facility, the methane degas wells, the Sanborn Creek Tract, the Elk Creek facilities, the West Valley <br /> and II West Coal Refuse facilities, and the Bear Creek fan site facility). All other areas of disturbance <br /> at the mine occurred prior to the effective date of the Act. <br /> Surface topography will generally be returned to the approximate original contour (ACC), with <br /> several exceptions: <br /> • In the Elk Creek drainage, at the northern end of the facilities area, a methane thermal <br /> oxidation and electricity generating facility operated by Vessels Coal Gas, Inc. will remain as a <br /> permanent facility on a level pad. <br /> • The original Bear Creek and Hubbard Creek ventilation facilities will be backfilled only to the <br /> extent practical, given the fact that these small facilities areas are preexisting and cut into <br /> steep slopes. <br /> • Requests are on file from the federal agencies who manage the surface in two areas (the US <br /> Forest Service for the Upper Hubbard Creek area and from the US Bureau of Land <br /> Management for the Lower Hubbard Creek site) to maintain them in their present condition <br /> as gravel pad parking lots for users of the access. <br /> • The Bear Creek fan site is to be used as a methane thermal oxidation facility, operated by <br /> North Fork Energy LLC. <br /> • Permanent waste piles will be blended into the surrounding topography. <br /> • The main mine access road will be left in place following mining in order to provide access to <br /> the Somerset Cemetery and Elk Creek. <br /> Following grading, all pre law disturbed areas in the Elk Creek yard will have surface material sampled <br /> to determine if it will be suitable for direct revegetation. The Sanborn Creek Tract disturbance will be <br /> sampled in a similar fashion. If it is found that the surface material is not suitable, the area will be <br /> top-dressed with suitable materials obtained from excavation for reestablishment of the Elk Creek <br /> drainage from a borrow area near the backfilled Elk Creek access portals or from topsoil stockpiles. <br /> Suitable plant growth medium will be spread to a thickness of six inches. The area will then be <br /> Page 11 of 22 <br />