GENERAL41869 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5 III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS PHASE I Backfilling and grading was primarily accomplished in the spring and summer of 1991. However, due to a lengthy battle of the ownership and disposition of a 300 foot length of conveyor, the final backfilling and grading was not completed until late 1992. All of the locally available material was used in the mine bench reclamation, but a small highwall face of 6 to 10 feet remains. It is likely that had the entire portal face-up area been reclaimed, the resultant slope would have been too steep to be stable. Undisturbed slopes above the reclaimed bench range from 85-95% in steepness and from 65-75% for slopes below the bench. The reclaimed bench has an average slope of 36-50%. During this bond release inspection and over the past three years of inspections, the area has shown no signs of slope instability and only very minor erosion. In 1994, one portal opening required additional fill material but it has not reopened since it was repaired. Currently there is a small crack developing around another portal area and it will be monitored closely and repaired if necessary. The main drainage channel, a natural gulch, was revitalized and rip- rapped to prevent further erosion. The reclamation of this channel has proven to be excellent. PHASE II TOPSOIL: This mine was apre-law and previously disturbed site and topsoil was not salvaged, therefor, topsoil replacement depths do not apply. REVEGETATION: The mine site is surrounded by a pinon-juniper vegetation community. The Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS-formerly Soil Conservation Service) Range site description for stony loam site (No. 237) closely resembles the vegetative community of the mine site and surrounding area. This range site description is described as having optimum ground cover of 30%. Other mine permits located in this vicinity are the National King Coal mine (C-81-035), and the Blue Flame Mine (C-81-053). Both the King Coal and Blue Flame Mines have north-facing aspects. The NRCS range site described for the Blue Flame Mine is the Rocky Foothills. Optimum vegetative ground cover associated with the Rocky Foothill range site is 25% to 40%. The King Coal Mine is described as apinon-juniper woodland. The average ground cover ascribed to the pinon-juniper woodland is 20%.