1994-10-21_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

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seedbed material. Stockpiles in place for five years or more have been or will be seeded with the permanent seed mix. Subsoil not fully suitable for seedbed material is also excavated, as necessary, for construction purposes. Topsoil consisting of all of the A horizon and part of the B horizon of each soil series present is stripped before construction begins. The operator will distribute 12 to 18 inches of topsoil over the entire disturbed area. However, the Lower Refuse Disposal Area will be replaced with 18 to 24 inches of topsoil and subsoil. A variance to the four feet of nontoxic cover has been granted to the West Elk Mine. This variance is discussed further in Section VIII, Coal Mine Waste Banks in this Findings Document. After the soil has been replaced, the surface is loosed and roughened by disking, harrowing, or dragging, which will increase infiltration, thereby reducing surface runoff. various conditioners and neutralizers may be used to modify seedbed conditions, or enhance vegetative cover. . V.. Sealing of Drilled Holes and underground Openings 1. The Division will require that each hole, well or other underground opening be capped, sealed, backfilled, or otherwise properly managed (4.07.3) . VI. Use of Explosives 1. Mining techniques used at the West Elk Mine do not require blasting as part of the regular extraction cycle. Occasionally, explosives are used for underground construction purposes. These uses only require small quantities of explosives. MCC's Explosives Handling and Blasting Procedures is presented in Exhibit 41 of the permit application. Map 53 shows the location of the powder magazine. Limited application of explosives may be necessary for additional future surface construction. Pursuant to Rule 4,08.1(2) , blasts that use more than five pounds of explosives or a blasting agent will be conducted according to the blasting schedule required by 4 .08.3. As appropriate, a pre-blasting survey will be performed (4.08.2) . VII . Disposal of Excess Spoil 1. The West Elk Mine will not require a disposal area for excess spoil (4 .09) . VIII. Coal Mine Waste Banks The West Elk Mine is currently approved to have two refuse disposal areas - the Upper Refuse Disposal Area and the Lower Refuse Disposal Area. The upper pile has not been constructed and construction is not planned for this permit term. MCC has postponed its construction indefinitely, and must address several stipulations before construction can begin. The upper pile will not be covered in this document; however, specific information is contained within Exhibit 50 of the permit application. The lower pile is currently in use and specifics regarding the design are located in Exhibit 51 of the permit application. The lower waste pile is located adjacent to Highway 133, at the west side of the mouth of Sylvester Gulch. MCC initially proposed the disposal of waste rock within two waste piles in the original permit application. One pile, the "initial waste rock pile, " would contain approximately 1 .25 million cubic yards and would be located on the lower facilities bench (the current location of the shop) . Subsequent to permit approval, this initial waste rock pile was deleted from MCC' s 41