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-~ ~ ~ ;~ ~.', ~~., ~~` 3. Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan (cont'd) ~~i /- 1 at the site. The only planned future disturbance is the construction of a sediment pond and topsoil stockpile which will occur after permit approval. Coal is mined underground in a down dip direction using room and pillar techniques. The mine workings have already progressed to a point approxi- mately 1400 feet from the portal entries. The operation will produce approxi- mately 123,000 tons of coal per year with a possible acceleration to 246,000 tons for the second year. The total anticipated production for the permit term is approximately 369,500 tons over a two or three year period. Mining during this term will aid Salt Creek Mining Company in determining the feasibility of further mining of coal beyond the permit term. Coal is mined at the exposed face by a continuous miner. The mined coal is then shuttled to a conveyor within the mine which transports the coal to the bench at the portal entries. On the bench coal is crushed, stock- piled, and loaded onto highway trucks and transported to the loadout. The loadout is located near Loma, Colorado along a railroad siding. This facility will be permitted under the permit issued for the Munger Canyon Mine and information pertaining to the loadout is included in the Munger Canyon permit application. Review, approval and permitting of the facility by the Division will occur during the Munger Canyon permitting process. Salt Creek Mining Company has also submitted an application for a loadout facility near Mack, Colorado. This facility is proposed for when the mines reach full production. The Mack Zoadout proposal is currently under review by the Division. No topsoil was stripped prior to the development which has already occured at the mine. The development occurred prior to the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and thus prior to the topsoil salvage requirements of the Act. Construction of the sediment pond will require stripping of topsoil. Topsoil will be salvaged from future disturbances to assist in reclamation of the existing disturbance after mining. When mining ceases for this operation, the portals will be appropriately sealed and backfilled. The bench area will be graded to the approximate original contour and appropriate drainage will be established. The distur- bance will be topsoiled, seeded and mulched to establish a vegetation cover of a variety consistent with surrounding naturally occuring vegetation.