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game species are elk and deer. Common raptors aze Golden Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Marsh Hawk and American Kestrel. Cultural and Historic Resources The applicant has conducted a number of site specific archaeological investigations of the permit area between 1978 and 1987. During these cultural resource inventories, two (2) archaeological sites and one (1) isolated prehistoric artifact within the permit boundary were identified. Of these, only one was considered significant; a stone hearth. The applicant entered into an agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office regarding mitigation measures of the site. Copies of all survey and testing reports aze on file with the State Historic Preservation Office. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans The Seneca II Mine is a surface operation utilizing area strip techniques. Surface disturbance at [he site includes the active surface mining pits, reclaimed auger mining areas, and mine-related structures and facilities. Mining occurs in two pits, the Wadge and Wolf Creek. The Wadge pit currently mines the Wadge coal seam to depths of 100 feet. The Wadge pit is oriented northwest to southeast, progressing in a northeast direction. The Wolf Creek pit recovers the Wolf Creek seam to depths of 140 feet, are oriented northeast to southwest, and are progressing in a southeast direction. Production rates prior to this permit term were at 600,000 tons per year. Estimated coal reserves and production rates place the end of mining around the year 1997. To date, the Wadge and Wolf Creek Pits combined have roughly 40,000 tons of coal remaining. Production will continue at the Seneca II-W and Yoast Mines. The 650 dragline was moved from the Seneca II Mine to the Yoast Mine in the fall of 1996. Three auger areas were mined at the Seneca II Mine. These areas are designated as Area B, D, and E and are shown on Exhibit 12-1A. Auger Area B, located in the W 1/2 of Section 2, TSN, R87W, began in June 1984 and was completed in January 1985. Auger Area D along the west side of the Wolf Creek Pit commenced in December 1983, temporarily ceased operations in March 1984 and then completed mining in January 1985. Auger Area E is located on the southern portion of previously mined Wadge West pits. Auger mining of the final Wadge pit highwall occurred from October 1983 to January 1985, again in March and April 1985, and in 1987. The highwall was initially retained as a portal faceup for future recovery of the Cow Camp underground reserves. Seneca Coal Company has abandoned plans for using the Auger Area E as a portal location at the present time, and reclamation has commenced. Area strip mining techniques used at the mine include vegetation removal, topsoil stripping, fragmentation and removal of overburden, fragmentation and removal of coal, spoils grading, topsoil replacement and Revegetation.