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During the period of active minining operations, reclamation was conducted concurrently <br />with mining, with the exception of approved variance areas where backfilling was delayed <br />to accommodate proposed auger or highwall mining, or other site specific considerations. <br />Due to the nature of the mining plan and the operational history, the application contains <br />a request for a variance from the contemporaneous reclamation requirements of Rule 4,14. <br />This request is discussed further in Section VII of this document. The generalized <br />reclamation sequence that was followed during active operations is described in the <br />following paragraph. <br />Topsoil is removed and stockpiled or, when possible, live-handled. Following topsoil removal <br />the overburden is blasted. Using the dragline, initial box cut spoil is placed onto previously <br />stripped but unmined ground creating a temporary overburden stockpile with each successive cut <br />going into the previous pit after coal is removed. The resulting spoils are graded to approximate <br />original contour, topsoiled and seeded. Permanent postmine drainage channels are <br />constructed in accordance with approved design specifications. Within scattered designated <br />locations, areas of one to two acres in size receive concentrated planting and seeding of native <br />shrubs and seeding of native forbs. Several of the designated areas will also be planted with <br />aspen saplings. Grasses are not seeded within these locations, in order to minimize competition <br />between the relatively quick developing and competitive grasses and the slower growing woody <br />plants. A number of the concentrated tree/shrub areas are to be fenced to protect woody <br />plantings from excessive browsing by large ungulates. The revegetation plan associated with PR- <br />3 includes a commitment and detailed design plans for an aspen reestablishment study, which will <br />evaluate the feasibility of transplanting native aspen saplings with variable soil treatments and <br />irrigation application rates. If the study identifies successful approaches, the revegetation plan <br />will be amended in the future to incorporate the selected practices on remaining areas to be <br />reclaimed. <br />During operations, raw coal was loaded onto haul trucks in each pit. The trucks travelled <br />along the permitted haul road to County Road 53. The trucks continued on County Road 53 to <br />the tie-across haul road, which provides direct access to the Public Service of Colorado <br />generating station at Hayden, Colorado. <br />All disturbed area runoff is controlled, treated and conveyed throughout the site to ensure <br />compliance with applicable laws. Sediment pond 006 provides sediment control for disturbance <br />within the south portion of the original mine permit area. Ponds 005 and 009 treat runoff <br />primarily in the northern portion of the original mine permit area. Sediment ponds 015, 016, <br />016A, and 017 treat the runoff from the southern extension area. Sediment pond 016A was <br />constructed in series immediately up-gradient from Pond 016, to provide additional detention <br />capacity for the expanded disturbance approved within PR-3. <br />No crushing, screening or washing of coal was conducted, and as such, the operation did not <br />produce coal mine waste. Non-coal waste will be disposed of offsite at an approved dump site. <br />Seneca II-W Findings Document 18 June l2, 2006 <br />Permit Renewal No. 5 <br />