Laserfiche WebLink
second variance area is the southern 'A' pit area in the south block. It will take approximately two <br />years to develop enough spoil piles to effectively rough grade this area due to the mine plan. The third <br />area is the northern (final) 'B' pit in the southern block. This final highwall pit area may require <br />additional time to grade and larger spoil areas to backfill the reduced final highwall. <br />If, in other areas not shown on Exhibit 19-1 or 19-1A contemporaneous reclamation is not operationally <br />feasible, a variance under Rule 4.14.11111c1 will be obtained from the Division before the creation of <br />more than four spoil ridges or extension beyond 180 days following coal removal. <br />SCC proposes to utilize the general backfilling and final grading sequence illustrated by Exhibits 19-1 <br />and 19-1A and the reclamation schedule shown on Table 19-1 to achieve the proposed postmining <br />topography shown on Exhibits 20-2 and 20-2A. In summary, the annual projection of areas graded are <br />based upon certain considerations. First, approximately two spoil rows are normally graded <br />simultaneously, once pit development establishes asteady-state configuration, to achieve the desired <br />postmining land configuration and to effectively maintain topographic continuity between grading <br />sequences. The number of spoil ridges associated with irregular box cuts, certain inside or outside <br />curves, short pits, facility areas, and haulage ramps may exceed four spoil rows to facilitate grading. <br />Second, timing of grading for specific spoil areas is based upon excavation cycle times and pit <br />configuration. Rough backfilling and grading will be kept within four spoil ridges and within 180 days, <br />except as discussed above. Cycle times are dependent upon factors such as pit configurations, <br />excavator performance, and customer demand. Third, once grading begins, the number of acres graded • <br />annually in a given pit is approximately equal to the number of acres disturbed annually. In certain <br />circumstances, this generalization may not apply because of spoil material needed to achieve the <br />designed postmining landform. For example, the backfilling and grading of box pit spoil, final highwalls, <br />and deep ramps typically require the movement of large volumes of spoil for great distances and <br />requires up to two years after coal removal for final grading. Also, grading of certain box cut spoil <br />areas Iwhere box cut material is spoiled on recoverable coal) will be temporarily delayed until the <br />recoverable coal is stripped (see Exhibit 19-1 and 19-1A1~ All of the acres graded in a given year are <br />projected to be topsoiled and seeded as soon as operationally feasible based on the reclamation <br />timetable and site conditions, and will represent reclaimed acres in Table 19-1. Soil replacement will be <br />completed within one year following final grading, provided the area is not being used for facility or <br />monitoring-related activities (i.e., items such as, but not limited to ramps, deadhead routes, light use <br />roads, haul roads, ponds, drainages, diversions, boneyards, office, or shop areasl~ If final grade is <br />achieved during fall or winter months, soil will be redistributed the following summer or fall to <br />accommodate fall seeding. When final grade is accomplished during spring or summer months, soil will <br />be redistributed by fall to accommodate fall seeding. <br />As can be seen from Table 19-1, more than half of the life-of-mine disturbance occurred prior to 1993. <br />The most significant disturbance is advance topsoil removal which must be completed by November 1 • <br />of each year in order to allow the overburden removal operation to continue during the winter and wet <br />5a Revised 4/01 <br />