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Description of the Reclamation Plan <br />Backfillin~gf Pits <br />After removal of all coal seams which can economically be recovered, the pits are backfilled <br />with spoils (overburden and interburden) and then graded by the dragline and dozers. As a <br />dragline removes overburden and interburden it creates spoil ridges by dumping the material <br />from the pit being opened into the mined out pit. Dozers and graders then smooth the spoil <br />ridges and blend them into the existing topography. Due to the nature of the overburden and <br />interburden after it has been blasted and removed from the pit, the material occupies <br />approximately 25% more volume than in its original condition. When replaced and regraded, the <br />result will be that the topography of the reclaimed surface will be slightly higher than the original <br />surface (an average of 12 feet). <br />Timing of Backfilling and Grading <br />Backfilling and grading will not be contemporaneous within the time limits of the Rules and <br />Regulations, due to the long pit lengths, the need to remove interburden from above recoverable <br />coal seams, and cycling times. The operator has committed to the criteria that there will never be <br />more than four unregraded spoil rows (including the active one) at any one time. This has been <br />approved as a variance by the Division and is bonded accordingly. <br />Topsoiline and Seeding <br />After final grading of the spoil ridges, topsoil is placed on the spoil to a depth of 18 inches on <br />cropland and 12 inches on rangeland. Variation of+/- 2 inches is allowed due to compaction and <br />operational considerations. Areas aze then seeded with one of three main seed mixes, depending <br />on the elevation. Range site A seed mix corresponds to the highest elevations within the mine <br />site, range site B seed mix the intermediate aeeas, and range site C the lower elevations. The A <br />and B seed mixes contain various grasses, forbs and shrubs while the C seed mix has only <br />grasses and forbs. Shrub clumps of approximately 1.6 acres are established from the <br />transplanting of mature shrubs retrieved from the advancing areas of the pits. Seeding will be <br />done by both drill and broadcasting methods. Areas will be drill seeded at a rate of no less than <br />30 PLS per square foot or if broadcast seeded, no less than 4~ PLS per square foot. <br />Lone-Term Ash DisQosal Plan <br />The applicant will continue to backfill Ashmore pit with ash from the Craig Power Plant. Ash <br />will also be disposed in Enfield pit beginning in the year 2001. The ash is approximately 60% <br />fly ash, ?0% bottom ash, and 20% scrubber sludge. A maximum of 5,20 tons per day of the <br />waste will be disposed of the Trapper Mine with an average of 1,222 tons/day expected. This is <br />TcdpoeY Mine 13 May 13, 199fl <br />