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VI. Reclamation Completed and General Reclaimed Area Stability <br />The reclaimed azeas appeaz stable and show no signs of instability or mass movement. The <br />surrounding areas, in their native state, are prone to slides, slumps, rock sloughage and debris flows. <br />This mass movement phenomenon has not affected the reclaimed azeas nor have these natural <br />processes been caused by mining activities. The mass movement processes have, to a lazge extent, <br />created the Coal Basin landform that is in existence today. Generally, the lazger reclaimed facilities, <br />such as the mine facilities azea and the waste disposal azeas will not be affected by the continuing <br />nature of these geologic activities. However, it is to be expected that portions of the reclaimed road <br />system will, from time to time, be impacted by landslides or sloughage initiated upslope of the <br />roadways. These slides and sloughs aze generally caused by the saturation of unstable soils that overlie <br />more competent shale. When a slide or slough occurs, the reclaimed road will act as an energy <br />dissipation structure, slowing, or potentially containing the slide. <br />The reclaimed roadway acting as a buffer for mass movements is not considered to be an <br />environmental problem or a public heath and safety issue. When the material involved in a mass <br />failure is slowed or contained by the reclaimed road network, the potential sediment volume available <br />for contribution to receiving streams from the material should be diminished. Collection of slide <br />material on the roadway will not adversely impact the function of the reclaimed road configuration. <br />This is because material stalled on the road will form a slope towazd the fill side of the roadway, <br />complimenting positive water drainage across the road, thus reducing erosion potential. Slumps that <br />accumulate on the road network aze also consistent with the U.S. Forest Service use plan of non- <br />motorized recreation in the back country of Coal Basin by reducing the potential for motorized <br />vehicles to access the upper reaches of the Basin. <br />VII. Estimate of ConHnuine Safety. Health, or Environmental Problems <br />A few continuing envirotunental and land use issues remain at Coal Basin. These include: <br />- Noxious weed control; <br />- Over grazing of reclaimed lands; <br />- Minimizing erosion from mine bench outslopes; <br />- Rill and gully repair on reclaimed road. <br />Noxious Weed Control <br />The Division has aggressively pursued the control of noxious weeds at the Coal Basin Mine. This <br />program has been lazgely successful in controlling infestations of a number of listed noxious weeds on <br />reclaimed areas. However, the Basin as a whole suffers from a weed control problem. Unless actions <br />Coal Basin Mine Reduced Inspection Frequency September 10, 2007 <br />