Laserfiche WebLink
Mining began along the eastern subcrop of the New Horizon Mine 2 area and uses a panel mining <br />method to develop the pits (see Map 2.05.3-1). The panels will vary in length and width according <br />to conditions, but will average approximately 2400 feet long and 120 feet wide. The mine will <br />occasionally have up to two pits actively working in order to effectively mine the two seams. In <br />1998, WFC permitted a slot cut immediately south of BB Road in order to provide room to turn the <br />pit to the north in preparation to mine through BB Road. This slot cut is I IS foot wide by 1,700 foot <br />long as shown on Exhibit 2.05.2-3 for location. A slot cut of similaz width is also needed on the east <br />side of 2700 Road as mining proceeds north to the outcrop from the year 2000-2003. Exhibit 2.05.2- <br />3 has been modified to show the s1ot.,The slot will begin approximately 630 fee[ south of the <br />intersection of BB Road and 2700 Road and will extend north of the intersection to neaz the Reeder <br />Garret property. The total length of the slot cut is 1550 feet. This open "tum" slot is necessary to <br />allow for a safe truck-shovel working area and for the overburden push dozers) to dump their spoil <br />off the coal edge when the mining operation first turns and advances northward. Exhibit 2.05.2-4 <br />shows a typical cross section of the Pit Turn Slot Cut and volumetric are listed. WFC plans on <br />making up the deficit backfill volume this cut will create when it mines west of 2700 Road in the <br />amendment area and the overburden depth increases. Currently, mining progresses east to west with <br />the long axis of the pits north to south. The overburden is excavated using dozers and a shovel and <br />trucks and then placed or pushed into an adjacent or nearby mined-out pit panels, with the exception <br />of the initial cut, which was placed adjacent to the pit onto land designated as a temporary <br />overburden stockpile (see Map 2.05.3-1). <br />During overburden removal operations, some selective handling of material will be performed based <br />on chemical and physical core data contained in Section 2.04.6, Geology Description, and <br />discussions presented in Section 2.05.4(2)(d), Topsoil (Redistribution) of the permit application. <br />Following recovery of the lower Dakota coal seam, the pit will be backfilled to approximate original <br />contour. Overburden testing is being done to ensure that acid or toxic forming overburden is not <br />placed within four feet of the surface and areas retreated as necessary. Topsoil will then be replaced <br />in approximate thicknesses of 1.0 feet on dryland pastures and 1.5 feet on irrigated pastures, <br />dependent upon the actual amount of topsoil recovered. The areas will then be seeded and irrigated <br />for pasture establishment. <br />Within the PR-OS portion of the New Horizon Mine 2 azea, a total soil replacement depth of <br />approximately 3.4 feet is projected fot irrigated haylands and irrigated pasturelands designated as <br />"Block A", on Map 2.05.4-4. A total replacement depth of approximately 1.9 feet is projected for <br />"Block B" irrigated pasturelands, 1.1 feet for "Block C", which includes both irrigated pasturelands <br />and dryland pasture; and approximately I foot for "Block D" dryland pasture. Two lift soil <br />replacement will be used on all replacement azeas except "Block D", where single lift replacement <br />will be utilized. <br />In accordance with landowner desires, the reclamation plan will be directed toward replacement and <br />enhancement of the dominant irrigated hayland and pastureland land uses. Small azeas of steeper <br />slopes or property corners difficult [o irrigate will be planted to dryland pasture, in accordance with <br />landowner requests. Reclamation efforts will not be directed towazd restoring the minor acreage of <br />depleted sagebrush rangeland, or the artificially subirrigated Swale areas. It is anticipated that <br />wetland vegetation will establish in low spots and adjacent to impoundments on the reclaimed <br />landscape, due to the presence of water from irrigation runoff. Continued incidental use of the <br />reclaimed landscape by wildlife similar to that which occurred prior to mining, is expected. <br />t2 <br />