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CORRECT METHOD OF EVALUATING THE REVEGETATION MD: AND SUCCESS <br />STANDARDS WILL NEED TO BE REVISED. INCLUDE IN THE REVISION <br />ALTERNATNES FOR DISTURBED AREA RECLAMATION IF THE PROPOSED LAND USE <br />CHANGES DO NOT TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE ALLOYED TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME <br />COMMENCING WHEN MINING HAS CONCLUDED. THIS REVISION iS TO BE <br />SUBMITTED WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE PERMIT RENEWAL IS ISSUED. <br />The following findings relate to the permit as it is currently approved: <br />After coal is stripped from the North Pit, a solid sandstone face (the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone) will <br />be left as the reclamation substrate. Two reclamation scenarios aze possible at this time. <br />The first reclamation scenario will occur with the continuation of coal mining in the North Pit area. <br />After extraction of the coal seams in this azea, backfilling will occur. A segment of the Pictured Cliffs <br />Sandstone will remain exposed in the former North Pit Area above the level of the backfill. As <br />backfilling loose overburden against the sandstone would not result in a stable backfill configuration <br />over the long term, the sandstone layer will remain as the final post-mining topographic feature. This <br />is consistent with the pre-mining configuration of the landscape and complies with the tenets-of <br />approximate original contour. To enhance the natural appearance of the sandstone face, OEI will <br />construct "pockets" in the sandstone face. Within these pockets, mechanical or explosive fracturing <br />will occur, providing an area for planting of woody plants. As necessary, topsoil or a soil substitute <br />will be placed within the "pockets" as a plant growth medium. Adapted native tree and/or shrub <br />species will be planted into the pockets. The species that have been selected are discussed in the <br />revegetation plan. <br />The second reclamation scenario will occur in the unlikely event that mining does not continue in the <br />North Pit area of the Carbon Junction Mine. In this event, backfill material from the existing bench <br />and downslope will be backfilled against the exposed sandstone face. The backfill will be sloped at <br />3H: 1 V, and compacted. Backfilled material will be placed in a manner that buttresses the backfill. <br />After backfilling the bench, a segment of the sandstone slope will remain exposed above the stable <br />backfill level. The exposed sandstone face will be reclaimed as discussed in the first reclamation <br />scenario above. The remaining backfilled area of the North Pit will be scarified as necessary, <br />topsoiled, and seeded and mulched according to the revegetation. plan. Erosion control measures to <br />minimize surface flow and infiltration at the nexus of the sandstone face and backfill will be taken to <br />minimize erosional impacts. <br />The initial reclamation will be the contemporaneous reclamation of the North Pit as mining occurs. <br />A series of benches will be developed to excavate the coal from the North Pit. Due to the slope it is <br />necessary to shoot the reclamation low wall holes as the mining progresses. Thus, as the entire North <br />Pit has been mined, the reclamation of the ]ow wall will have been completed. The reclamation of the <br />low wall has been more fully described in the reclamation plan. <br />The remaining pit and fill will be reclaimed in a conventional fashion utilizing dozers and scrapers. <br />Since the facilities area is made up of mostly mobile equipment, the reclamation of this area consists <br />to <br />