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RECLAMATION COSTS <br />EXHIBIT L <br />The worst-case reclamation requirements have significantly changed from the previous permit <br />Amendment. The primary cost item for the previous bond calculation was due to slope backfill. <br />In the last few years, the nature of the pit operations has changed drastically. Due to limitations <br />on excavation spoil disposal azound the Aspen azea, the Vagneur Pit has an abundance of <br />imported backfill material (approximately 700,000 cubic yazds). All pit slopes have been <br />backfilled along the south, east, and north of the existing pit. All areas other than the current <br />dump point along the north wall of the existing pit have been contoured, topsoiled, and <br />regenerated. Once operations commence within the expansion area, slopes will be maintained at <br />3H:1 V as per the mining plan. This removes all backfill considerations and greatly lowers the <br />reclamation liability. <br />The site which exists at the start of 2007 is the worst case reclamation scenario because it <br />involves the most backfilling. The entire east side of the existing pit is approximately 1H:1 V, <br />and must be restored to 3H:1 V. This slope is approximately 1250 feet long, therefore, this is the <br />largest cost. It involves the backfilling of approximately 255,000 cubic yazds of fill. By <br />removing the topsoil (1') from this calculation, this leaves 244,000 cy for backfill. The topsoil is <br />accounted for over the entire disturbed area. Once mining starts in the expansion azea, this slope <br />will be mined out to a 3H:1 V grade and the reclamation will primarily involve only topsoiling, <br />seeding and mulching. Therefore, although the expansion area will expose more disturbed area, <br />its cost of reclamation is less than the current condition. Since there is an abundance of imported <br />material in the pit, this material would be used in the backfilling. The centroid of this fill is <br />approximately 1180 feet away from the centroid of the backfill area and the grades are relatively <br />constant. It will be assumed that they are 0%. This material will be moved with scrapers and <br />graded with dozers. <br />Yagneur Pit June 07 L-1 <br />