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• ' T' ` <br />• <br />demonstrated by having stood five years without any <br />failures. Also, since we will begin moving some of the <br />pile within the next several months, the height of <br />the pile and the slope will gradual:Ly decrease to <br />even safer levels. <br />Wyoming Fuel Company does not agree that this stock- <br />pile is hazardous: first because it has never shown <br />signs of failure, and second because if it did fail, <br />it would be highly unlikely that men and equipment <br />will be working beneath it. In light of the fact that <br />CMLR staff is concerned about the stability of the pile, <br />Wyoming Fuel Company would agree to frequent visual <br />monitoring of the slopes to detect and mediate any <br />developing problems and to provide appropriate danger <br />signs as required. <br />Mr. Pendleton has correctly identified an editing <br />error on Page 54. After N= 54 at the top of the <br />page, Figure 8 should be referenced. Another editing <br />error brought out by his comments is that the vertical <br />"COT i" lines showing 30 degrees and 48 degrees are <br />reversed. These have been corrected( See Figure B from <br />April 14, 1981 application, revised July 28, 1981). <br />4.13 Contemporaneous Reclamation <br />Wyoming Fuel Company intends to begin backfilling Pit #1 as soon <br />as possible in 1981 and after that as production schedules allow. <br />Even though Wyoming Fuel Company intends to reclaim Pit #1 as soon <br />as "practicable" (physically and economically) we cannot assure the <br />CMLR staff that it will be reclaimed before 1986, the data indicate <br />by our April 14, 1981 application. The availability of equipment, <br />men and operating capital for backfilling between now and the end <br />of 1986, will vary depending on market conditions, interest rates, <br />and other company demands for available cash. Wyoming Fuel does <br />not identify the backfilling of Pit #1 as a high priority item <br />for limited company funds as long as the extended life of the open <br />pit does not seriously compound its environmental impact. <br />Wyoming Fuel Company agrees that topsoil should be used as soon <br />as possible to maintain its value as a growing medium. However, <br />it is our understanding that fertilizer can be used to build up <br />the topsoil from piles that necessarily must be idle for long <br />periods. This does not offset the benefit potential of natural <br />revegetation from the topsoil pile, but operations prevent the <br />use of these piles immediately. <br />Reclamation has begun in the northern part of Pit #1 area, so <br />potential problems in establishing desired plant communities are <br />already being discovered. Wyoming Fuel Company will continue to <br />control environmental problems caused by the open pit and over- <br />burden stockpile as dictated by the appropriate regulations and <br />the best practical reclamation practices. <br />-] 5- <br />