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• ~iiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiii • <br />999 <br />EXHIBIT E <br />• RECLAMATION PLAN <br />(Please refer to Exhibits F, F-1, and F-2 [Reclamation Maps]) <br />During mining operations, units or blocks of areas that have been mined will be ready for <br />reclamation. These units or blocks follow the general mine sequence plan in order that <br />the amount of reclamation approximates the area disturbed for that year. There is a lag <br />in reclamation during early operations resulting in more acres disturbed than are <br />reclaimed due to stockpiles, the opening of new excavations, roads, etc. <br />As mining is completed in a block, overburden materials are backfilled into the pit. Rough <br />grading is completed to establish the postmining contours. Topsoil is spread on the <br />rough graded overburden and any final grading then takes place. Rough grading of the <br />overburden creates a surface that minimizes the chance of topsoil slippage. The <br />minimum topsoil replacement depth will be 18 inches (see Exhibit 1 "Soils Information" for <br />discussion of topsoil salvage and soil characteristics). Direct placement of topsoil from <br />salvage areas to graded overburden is used where feasible to maintain topsoil qualities <br />and reduce the handling and overall logistics involved in topsoil salvage (see Table E-1 <br />for year-by-year replacement). <br />The designed postmining topography will maintain the farmability of the site, reestablish <br />drainage, and assure that large depressions or areas that might collect water (i.e. closed <br />drainage) are eliminated. These measures are designed to keep reclaimed areas <br />farmable and reduce the chances of winter killed wheat or extending wet spring <br />conditions which inhibits access and farming operations. <br />Reclamation efforts will return the area to the premining land use of pastureland/cropland. <br />As discussed in the Vegetation Information (Exhibit J), the area has been historically <br />cropped to small grains using summer fallow methods. The many years of cropping, <br />tillage, and lack of adequate fertilization have taken their toll on the soil system. Organic <br />matter levels have dropped from the 5 to 6 percent found in similar undisturbed soils to <br />. 1.6 to 2.1 percent for existing site soils. <br />E-1 Revised May 1998 <br />