2003-08-26_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981041

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includes topsoil Temporary roads will be reclaimed when no longer needed for access during reclamation activities. All roads will be reclaimed with the exception of roads approved for the postmining land use (listed in Section C.I. of this document). Roads will be ripped, cuts and fills returned to approximate original contour, and the entire surface regraded. Topsoil will be redistributed approximately 6" thick on all reclaimed refuse disposal areas, the North Portal facilities azea, and the Cameo Borrow Area No. 2. Portions of azeas which were disturbed prior to any reclamation requirements and from which no topsoil was salvaged, including the South Portal area, and the Unit Train Loadout will be surfaced with at least 6 inches of the best available material on site following removal of coaly material. Disturbed areas will be drill seeded or hydroseeded with the seedmixes listed in Table 14-2 of the permit application. Because of the low precipitation and saline and sodic soils, revegetation will be difficult. However, with intensive management, the petmittee should be able to revegetate the disturbed azea with a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetation cover similaz to the surrounding azea. Utilization of adapted plant species will aid the success of vegetation reestablishment. Results of revegetation efforts conducted since the mid 1990's at various pemut area locations have been mixed, with some areas exhibiting diverse stands dominated by seeded grasses and shrubs, and other azeas characterized by poor perennial cover, low diversity, or a significant cheatgrass component. The operator has conducted limited inter-seeding treatments within areas of poor establishment on the lower benches of CRDA-2 and at the North Decline, and is considering re-treatment of small areas of poor establishment at the South Fan azea. Modifications have been incorporated into the revegetation plan over the course of operations based on monitoring results and observation, in order to enhance the potential for success. Such modifications have included adjustments to the seedmixes and more aggressive seedbed roughening treatments for steep slope broadcast seeding azeas. Current Reclamation Status Prior to cessation of operations in December 1999, fmal reclamation activity had been limited to the lower benches of the CRDA-1 and CRDA-2 refuse disposal azeas (1994), and certain ancillary facility azeas including the North Decline (1991-1993), South Lease exploration drill sites and roads (1985/1986), and Northwest Intake Portal (1993). The South Fan facility azea and associated borrow azea and access road, and the 2 West Portal disturbed area was reclaimed in 2000 and 2001. Final reclamation including stmctural demolition and removal, backfilling and grading, topsoiling, and revegetation began on a lazge scale in 2001/2002. As of August 2003, final reclamation has been lazgely completed at a number of additional major facility azeas including CRDA-1 and CRDA-2 refuse azeas, RSRDA refuse area slopes, the Nor[h Portal facility azea, Cameo Soil Borrow Areas CBA-1 and CBA-2, the Roadside Soil Borrow Area, and the segment of the overland conveyor corridor between the public road crossing and the rail loop. Most remaining reclamation is to be completed by the end of 2004, in accordance with the reclamation schedule set forth in permit Figure 14-1. These projects include: --Reclamation of the remaining segment of the conveyor corridor including demolition of the suspended tube over the Colorado River and the Transfer-2 structure on the west bank of the river; --Reclamation of the top of the RSRDA refuse pile; and, -Reclamation of the South Portal Facilities azea including removal of remaining structures, backfilling and grading, final drainage constmction and revegetation. 16