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The Division has initiated a review of the backfill and grading procedures utilized at the <br /> Trapper Mine and the resultant post-mining topography and how they relate to compliance with <br /> the approximate original contour requirements of Rules 4.14.1 and 4.14.2. <br /> SECTION V. - PERMIT VARIANCES AND SPECIFIC APPROVALS <br /> The following are specific variances and approvals granted by the Division. They are further out- <br /> lined in the Permit Renewal No. 2, Permit Revision No. 3 Findings Document, dated February 5, <br /> 1993. <br /> The Division has granted a variance from Rule 4.14.1 for contemporaneous reclamation. Due to the <br /> nature of coal extraction at Trapper, rough backfilling and grading may take more than 180 days, <br /> although the operator has committed to never having more than four ungraded spoil ridges at any <br /> one time. <br /> The Division has granted specific approval, under Rule 4.03.1(2)(c), for temporary fords of <br /> ephemeral or intermittent streams with a watershed of more than one mile for haul roads in Coyote, <br /> Johnson, No Name and East Pyeatt drainages. <br /> The Division has granted specific approval, under Rule 4.03.2(2)(c), for temporary fords of <br /> ephemeral streams with a watershed of more than one mile for access roads in the Coyote, Johnson, <br /> No Name and East Pyeatt drainages. <br /> The Division will give a specific variance, through the minor revision process, for specific areas that <br /> are to be excluded from topsoil removal, pursuant to Rule 4.06.2(2)(a). There is no general variance <br /> from Rule 4.06.2(2)(a) for the entire mine site. <br /> The Division, under Rule 4.08.4(2), will grant approval for deviations from the announced blasting <br /> schedule for unavoidable Hazardous situations. These situations are elimination of misfires, adverse <br /> weather conditions, equipment failure and safety related reasons. <br /> Under Rule 4.15.2(3), the operator has shown that introduced species can be used in the reclamation <br /> seed mix. The Division concurred. <br /> The Division has granted specific approval, pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(1), for the use of shrub clumps <br /> to partially meet the shrub density requirement. For range sites A and B, each shrub clump will be <br /> at least 1.6 acres in size and have a live stem density of at least 3,764 per clump. In addition, a live <br /> stem density of at least 400 stems per acre will be achieved, including the shrub clumps. Range <br /> site C will have no shrub density standard. <br /> Under Rules 4.19(1) and 4.22.4(1), the Division had granted a variance to allow the operator to <br /> mine closer than 500 feet from an underground mine. This variance involved Trapper's Colt Pit and <br /> Empire's underground mine. As of this date, mining has ceased in the Colt Pit and the pit has been <br /> backfilled, graded, topsoiled and revegetated. <br /> 7 <br />