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application). Two rock underdrains have been constructed beneath <br />the refuse pile to properly dewater the refuse pile and contribute <br />to slope stability. <br />Both coarse and fine materials are disposed of in the refuse pile. <br />Fine materials are initially dewatered to facilitate their <br />consolidation after final deposition and compaction. The pile has <br />been approved to be at the height of 75 feet while retaining a <br />factor of safety greater than 1.5. The refuse pile reclamation <br />will be completed by covering the remaining spoil area with four <br />feet of noncombustible cover, including topsoil, seeding and <br />mulching. The Southfield Mine began contemporaneous reclamation of <br />the pile in 1983 when the eastern side of the pile was topsoiled <br />and revegetated. The Operator has continued contemporaneous <br />reclamation of the refuse Bile. The latest portion of the pile to <br />be covered and seeded (in late 2000 and early 2001) was a strip <br />approximately 1.1 acres in size. Two-foot lifts of the refuse, <br />alternating coarse and fine materials, are compacted until the <br />permitted height of 75 feet is reached. <br />Reclamation of the Loadout <br />Reclamation of the loadout began with backfilling and regrading the <br />area between July and November 1996. A complete application for <br />Phase I Bond Release was received by the Division on 21 August 1997 <br />and approved on 4 November 1997. The loadout was reseeded in 1997 <br />and, after what the Operator deemed inadequate vegetation, again in <br />1999. Upon submittal and approval of a Phase II Bond Release for <br />the loadout (no sooner than 2004), the Operator will remove all of <br />the surface water control structures and grade these areas to <br />approximate original contour. Topsoil will be spread on these <br />areas followed by seeding and mulching. <br />Topsoil <br />Topsoil stripping depths and recoveries have varied at the mine <br />site and loadout. This is due to the previous pre-law mining <br />disturbances and subsequent loss of topsoil, coupled with the <br />presence of a rocky sub-strata "B" horizon, consisting primarily of <br />cobbly, unconsolidated colluvial/alluvial outwash materials. <br />Topsoil recovery has been from 0-1 foot as a result in some <br />locations. In order to facilitate successful revegetation, EFCI <br />has agreed to prepare the disturbed areas for seeding by ripping <br />the regraded facilities area to a depth of 2 to 3 feet prior to <br />topsoil replacement. Sufficient topsoil will be retained for final <br />reclamation of the ponds on the mine site and loadout. <br />Southfield Mine Permit Renewal 03 <br />23 <br />