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several outside groups to evaluate the potential for restarting the <br />mine. Description of both the operation and reclamation plan can <br />be found in Section 2.05.3 of Volume 1 and Section 2.05.4 of Volume <br />2 respectively, in the permit application. A brief description of <br />each follows. <br />Oteration Plan <br />Coal is mined, washed, stockpiled and then trucked from the mine <br />site to market. Coal mine waste is disposed of in a permitted <br />refuse pile located at the mine site. <br />Coal is mined by the room and pillar method, using continuous <br />miners. Coal is transported from the working sections of the mine <br />to the surface by a belt conveyor, and then dumped in a raw coal <br />stockpile. Raw coal is sized, crushed and cleaned by gravity <br />separation in the preparation plant at the mine site. A belt press <br />is then used to dry the coal prior to transferring the coal to <br />stockpiles where it is eventually trucked off site. <br />Reclamation Plan <br />Following cessation of mining operations at the Southfield Mine, <br />the site will be reclaimed in accordance with the reclamation plan <br />found in the permit document. All support facilities will be <br />removed from the site or buried on site. The portals will be <br />sealed and the area will then be graded so as to return it to <br />approximate original contour. All ponds and diversions will be <br />removed except the refuse pile ditches, which are to be retained as <br />permanent features. With the approval of TR15, designs have been <br />submitted, reviewed and approved to allow the Magpie Creek <br />diversion to be permanent. The disturbed areas will be covered <br />with topsoil and seeded and mulched so as to establish a diverse <br />self-perpetuating stand of vegetation. <br />Coal Refuse Permanent Stockpile <br />Coal preparation results in coarse and fine coal refuse which is <br />placed in a permitted permanent stockpile located on the mine site. <br />Design capacity for the pile is approximately 3.8 million cubic <br />yards, with approximately 3.5 million cubic yards utilized at <br />present. Geotechnical stability analysis was conducted in 1981 by <br />the original permittee, Dorchester Coal, Inc. The report can be <br />found in Exhibit 18 of the permit application. In addition, an <br />analysis of soil suitability for growth medium and revegetation <br />success was conducted in 1988 (see Exhibit 9 of the permit <br />Southfield Mine Permit Renewal 03 <br />22 <br />