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• EXHIBIT E -RECLAMATION PLAN <br />Previously-mined areas will be backfilled as part of the normal mining cycle. The backfill <br />will be primarily composed of unconsolidated materials that make up th'e overburden <br />covering the Ft. Hays Limestone. -The unconsolidated overburden thickness ranges from <br />0 ft to 20 ft, averaging approximately 7 ft. Some areas have 5 to 10 fr of shale <br />immediately over the limestone, but the shale does not exist over much of the resource <br />area. Assuming a 25 percent swell factor, the backfill material should occup}~ <br />approximately 9 ft. Since much of the mineable limestone is approximately 40 ft thick, a <br />typical backfilled area will be about 30 feet below existing elevations. <br />After mining has been completed and an area has been backfilled, high walls will be <br />dozed into the pit to blend with the sun•ounding topography. Graded slopes will be no <br />steeper than 4H:1 V, and main drainages from the reclaimed areas will be re-established. <br />Once grading is completed, topsoil will be spread followed by seeding, fertilizing, and <br />mulching. Exhibit F illustrates proposed post-mining topography of the quarried area. <br />Within the proposed surface mine area, the existing vegetation has been fully described in <br />Exhibit J -Vegetation Information. There are existing areas that have little or no <br />vegetative cover; however, it is perceived that, with the removal of the limestone and the <br />existence of adequate soils provided, revegetation will become uniform after final <br />• reclamation grading. After application of the seed mixture described below, an improved <br />species count of plains grasses will appear soon after the initial planting. Over time and <br />with the airborne reintroduction of species from adjacent unaffected lands, it is likely that <br />vegetation diversity and density will return to current conditions. The initial disturbance <br />at the surface mine site will be that of topsoil removal with pan scrapers, along with the <br />construction of erosion and sedimentation structures. The outside slopes of the final <br />excavation will be no steeper than 4H:1 V, and will be stabilized by placing overburden <br />material adjacent to the cut to re-establish permanent and final vegetative conditions. A <br />geotextile mesh containing a cover seed mix and fertilizer (or equivalent) will be used in <br />these outside slopes to quickly stabilize and prevent erosion. The roots of existing <br />vegetation can be left in place, as practical, to facilitate plant re-growth after construction <br />activities to further minimize erosion. <br />The maximum new acreage to be affected in one yeaz by mining is anticipated to be less <br />than 15.5 acres. In addition to the active mine workings of about 15.5 acres per year, <br />various reclamation activities will be occurring on 10 to 20 acres, depending on the <br />success of revegetation efforts. The reclamation process is immediate and will be <br />ongoing, with final seeding completed during the appropriate seasons. Topsoil and <br />subsoil from the box cut will be transported to and placed in a designated azea for long- <br />term storage. As the mine progresses, any newly encountered topsoil will be removed and <br />temporarily stored in an azea behind the working face or placed directly on prepared, <br />mined-out panels. When available, unconsolidated overburden materials will be placed <br />• on the pit floor underlaying the quarried limestone at a thickness ranging from 5 to 10 ft. <br />A minimum of 12 inches of soil will then be removed and placed over the backfilled <br />APPEdribitsA-T-APP(1180)RevB/January 17, 2002 E-1 <br />