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intervals. The ditches will be maintained until the vegetation becomes established. It is anticipated that the ditches <br /> would fill with sediment in the initial years following vegetation establishment. Therefore, no reclamation will be <br /> necessary. On completion of backfilling and grading operations,the salvaged plant growth media will be redistributed <br /> over the area. The postmining topography of the area is shown on the Reclamation Plan Map(Map 29). <br /> The regraded areas will be planted with a cover crop and subsequently drill-seeded with the appropriate seed mixture <br /> (rangeland/wildlife for sloping areas and pastureland for flatter areas). The seed will be applied with a rangeland drill <br /> at the rate of 17.25 pounds PLS/acre for the rangeland/wildlife mixture and 17.0 pounds PLS acre for the pastureland <br /> mixture. Where it is necessary to broadcast the seed,the seeding rate will be doubled. <br /> No. 9 Mine Portal Area and 7-North Angle Well <br /> As previously discussed in Section 2.05.3, Operation Plan - Permit Area, an additional coal refuse disposal site was <br /> established in the No. 9 Mine Portal Area. Prior to establishment of the refuse disposal area, electrical equipment, <br /> surface coal haulage equipment(conveyor belt system),ventilation equipment,and miscellaneous mining scrap located <br /> in the portal excavation were dismantled and removed from the site,the portal entries,located at the bottom of the portal <br /> excavation were sealed and covered with 15 feet of material,and all exposed coal seams were covered with a minimum <br /> of four feet of inert backfill material. In conjunction with coal refuse placement activities, a monitoring well was <br /> established adjacent to the coal refuse disposal area. The well is monitored on a quarterly basis,consistent with schedule <br /> and parameters outlined in Exhibit 29. <br /> Once the initial backfilling was completed, waste material including coarse reject was hauled to the waste area and <br /> placed and compacted in 2-foot lifts. Placement continued until the refuse reached a level four feet below the planned <br /> reclaimed surface. In 2008, as part of a larger site reclamation project, the No. 9 Portal Warehouse Building was <br /> demolished, a solid waste disposal site was permitted and established in the portal backfill area, and the remainder of <br /> the portal excavation and refuse area were backfilled and covered with a minimum of four feet of suitable material using <br /> materials stockpiled from the original portal excavation. The reclaimed areas were then graded to blend with the <br /> surrounding terrain and to reestablish effective drainage consistent with the design postmining topography(Refer to the <br /> Reclamation Plan Map, Map 29). The regraded surface was left in a roughened condition to minimize slippage and <br /> promote root growth and moisture infiltration. Soil material,which was temporarily stored adjacent to the No. 9 Portal <br /> Area,was redistributed over the regraded area to a depth of approximately 6 inches. <br /> The No. 9 Dewatering Installation below old County Road 13 (7-North Angle Well) is no longer needed to support <br /> ongoing or anticipated future operations and reclamation has began. The building and facilities have been removed, <br /> and plugging and sealing of the dewatering borehole is planned for 2022, consistent with applicable State Engineer <br /> requirements. The power have not been disconnected and will remain in place for the time being. On completion of <br /> sealing the well,the facilities area will be regraded. The No. 9 Dewatering Installation will be returned to a postmining <br /> land use of pastureland. The reclaimed areas either have been or will be reseeded with a cover crop and the appropriate <br /> reclamation seed mixture using a rangeland seed drill. Where necessary to apply the seed by the broadcast method,the <br /> seeding rates are doubled. It is anticipated that the area to be planted to pastureland or rangeland. <br /> No. 9 Coal Refuse Disposal Area <br /> Given the sloping topography of the refuse disposal area, initial pile construction began at its southern limits,with the <br /> initial lifts progressing to the north until the pile surface is level. Once the pile was level, construction was generally <br /> from north to south. Lift thicknesses was about 24 inches and each lift was compacted to 90 percent of maximum dry <br /> density determined by T-99 procedures. Pile construction specifications are presented in Exhibit 21, Waste Disposal <br /> Site. <br /> MT8 2.05-29 Revised 02/28/22 <br />