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Coal Mining Reclamation Act. Baseline environmental factors were not <br />measured, and no topsoil was salvaged prior to previous disturbance. <br />• Disturbances which have been conducted since the effective date of the Act <br />have been permitted and conducted in compliance with the Act and Regulations. <br />These activities include the Hubbard Creek Ventilation Fan No. 2 facility, the <br />3 Dip Methane Degas Wellfield, and the Sanborn Creek Mine. All other areas of <br />disturbance at the mine occurred prior to the effective date of the Act, <br />although the Elk Creek facilities are currently functional as the Sanborn <br />Creek Mine support facilities. <br />U.S. Steel conducted a vegetative survey of unaffected land adjacent to the <br />surface-disturbed areas for the purpose of developing a reclamation plan for <br />the surface-disturbed area. The surface will be returned to the undeveloped <br />land-use classification which is the present status of adjacent lands and the <br />pre-mining land use of the disturbed area. <br />Somerset Mining Company conducted a detailed soil survey and vegetation survey <br />of the areas to be affected by development of the Sanborn Creek portals, haul <br />road and conveyor facilities. These surveys indicated that approximately <br />8,850 cubic yards of soil could be salvaged from these areas and that <br />vegetation in the portal area and along the conveyor/haul road corridor was <br />substantially the same as the surrounding vegetative types. Soil salvaged <br />from these areas will be used for reclamation activities. However, soil on <br />the new Sanborn Creek disturbance will not necessarily be replaced to the same <br />original thickness, as discussed in the Topsoil section below. <br />All surfaces will be returned to the approximate original contour (AOC> with <br />two exceptions. The Bear Creek and Hubbard Creek ventilation facilities will <br />• be backfilled only to the extent practical, given the fact that these small <br />facilities areas are pre-existing and cut into steep slopes. A variance from <br />AOC has been granted in accordance with the backfilling and grading provisions <br />of the Regulations (see Section VII of this document). Permanent waste piles <br />will be blended into the surrounding topography. The main mine access road <br />will be left in place following mining in order to provide access to the <br />Somerset Cemetery and Elk Creek. The powerline access road and powerline <br />corridor will be reclaimed. <br />Following grading, all pre-law disturbed areas in the Elk Creek yard will have <br />surface material sampled to determine if it will be suitable for direct <br />revegetation. The Sanborn Creek disturbance will be sampled in a similar <br />fashion. If it is found that the surface material is not suitable, the area <br />will be topdressed with suitable materials obtained from excavation for <br />reestablishment of the Elk Creek drainage from a borrow area near the <br />backfilled Elk Creek access portals or from topsoil stockpiles. Suitable <br />plant growth medium will be spread to a thickness of six inches. The area <br />will then be seeded with the approved seed mixture and mulched at the rate of <br />4,000 pounds of straw per acre. Straw will be crimped along the contour. <br />It is anticipated that active mining operations will continue for at least Zl <br />years. Reclamation operations will begin immediately following the decision <br />to close the mine. <br />• <br />-7- <br />