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' Sunmary and Conclusions <br />Colorado MLRD provided Panorama with standards for interpreting <br />the results of overdurden physical and chemical constituents. <br />These were the 'Montana Department of State Lands guideline for <br />suspect levels in overburden material.' <br />Results of overburden sampling and analysts indicate that eight <br />constituents, Including sand and clay, exceed the standards. The <br />suspect constituents are scattered over several overburden sample <br />Intervals: they are not confined to a single strat(graphlc <br />horizon. With the exception of zinc and clay. the constituents <br />marginally exceed the standards. M(xing of the overburden during <br />mining should alleviate environmental Impacts fro^ toxic <br />constituents or unsuitable material (I.e, sand or clay). <br />Design of Test Boring Progran <br />Overview <br />The Rimrock Coal Company permit area is 38 acres, of which, 7.23 <br />acres is designed as Phase 1 Mine area and 6.58 acres is <br />included in a Phase 2 Mine area, Exhibit JJ. <br />• The Englevllle Coal Sea^ within the Vermelo Formation !s the sea^ <br />targeted for mining. The geologic map, Exhlblt K, showa the <br />outcrop and structure of the Englevllle Sean. The overlying. <br />non-coal bearing lower portion of the Raton Fornatlon xlll also <br />be affected by the surface mining operation The practical <br />geologic contact between the Verneio and Raton Formations !s the <br />top of the Soprls Coal Sean, Exhibits FF and GG. The Soprls, <br />with some question of correlation, was penetrated In the <br />exploratory holes. <br />Underlying the Englevllle Sean are a series of thin, uneconomic <br />seams that generally correlate to the Piedmont-Lower Pled~ont <br />seams. Uncertainty e:lsts as to the correct Wane for the bench <br />of coal that underlies the Englevllle Sea^ In many holes. Either <br />Lower Englevllle Bench or Piedmont !s appropriate. In any event, <br />the operation plan !s to leave this thin, lenticular coal in <br />place. <br />Likewise, the plan is to spoil the overlying Soprls Sean and any <br />locally developed seams, unless there thickness and quality xould <br />prove to be econoalcally viable. <br />Location of Sites <br />In consideration of the mine size and original operation plan, <br />. mining In the Phase t area only, samples from Rlnrock hole 29-4 <br />were collected for laboratory analysts. However, the addition of <br />the Phase 2 area, In which stratlgraphlcally higher saterlal will <br />be disturbed, dictated that samples from hole 29-9 be utilized. <br />-5- <br />