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<br />Section 2.05.4(2)(c) Page 4 January 2024 (TR-108) <br /> <br />All excavated non-coal material from the mining areas will be used for backfilling the mined pits <br />and blending mined areas into the existing topography to achieve the approximate original <br />landform. Therefore, no excess spoil material will exist. <br /> <br />Postmining Topography <br /> <br />Since mining operations will be performed with shovel/truck and dozers instead of a dragline, <br />the post-mining topography was estimated based upon a 15 percent swell factor. Previous <br />experience has shown that the initial swell is reduced over time with settling, which results in a <br />net 8% increase in volume. <br /> <br />In some areas, in order to return the land to topography that meets the landowners’ needs, swell <br />volume was placed elsewhere. This primarily affects the ERMR-Lloyd and ERMR-Benson West <br />properties, which are now slightly higher than in pre-mine. Excess overburden volume from the <br />Morgan property was moved to the Lloyd and Benson areas in order to meet the Morgan’s <br />requirements of returning the land to the same surface elevation. <br /> <br />Additional excess topsoil was available for the final reclamation parcels at the New Horizon <br />Mine on the Johnson Property. This excess topsoil was placed into small tributary drainages that <br />report to Pond 013, which flattened the overall grades of the tributaries, and made a flatter post- <br />mine topography. The final surface on the Johnson Property will be more erosional stable and <br />should the landowner want to bring the property into hay production post-mining it has a flatter <br />grade to grow crops upon. <br /> <br />Map 2.05.4-1 shows the post-mining topography, which is in accordance with the post mine land <br />use. Cross-sections through the mining areas and their locations are also shown on this map. <br />These cross sections show original and post-mining ground. <br /> <br />Slides and Other Damage <br /> <br />Since the backfill is stable, slides are not anticipated during the term of mining and reclamation <br />activities. <br /> <br />Morgan Property Grading <br /> <br />At the request of the landowner and in the interest of facilitating quality revegetation, the <br />Morgan Property grading plan has been revised to reduce grades and improve the consistency of <br />grades across the property. Map 2.05.4-1-3 provides a pre-mine to post-mine topo comparison. <br />The chart below shows the overall improvement in grades on the Morgan Property. <br /> <br />