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approved variances from the 180-day backfill and grading requirement of Rule 4.14.1(1)(c), for <br />specific locations. Finally, within PR-3, the Division approved a number of reclamation plan <br />amendments intended to enhance soil stabilization and vegetative diversity, and a field study to <br />evaluate irrigation and soil handling practices for successful establishment of site-native aspen <br />saplings. <br />PR-4 proposed decision (approval with conditions) was issued November 17, 2004. Stipulations <br />34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 were attached. The primary operational change associated with PR-4 was <br />the incorporation of highwall miner coal extraction to allow for maximal coal recovery following <br />extraction by conventional surface mining techniques, in specified final pit locations. In addition, <br />various updates to the ownership and control information section of the permit were included in <br />PR-4, refinements to the plans for design and certification of stock tank impoundments were <br />addressed, and "As-Built" designs for Sediment Pond 17 were provided. Reclamation liability <br />was increased by $756,373.00, and additional bond in the amount of $707,373.00 was submitted, <br />bringing to total bond held by the Division to $9,707,373.00. <br />PR-5 proposed approval decision was issued June 16, 2006. The PR-5 application was submitted <br />by SCC, and received by the Division May 10, 2005. Seneca Coal Company submitted the <br />revision application due to a corporate decision by Peabody Energy Corporation to cease coal <br />production in early 2006, several years earlier than previously planned. SCC cited economic <br />factors and adverse mining conditions for the decision, including the determination that highwall <br />mining would likely not meet initial production expectations. Highwall mining was employed for <br />a short time at SCC's Yoast Mine, located several miles east of Seneca II-W. The technique had <br />been approved for use at Seneca II-W, but was not implemented. <br />Coal extraction was in fact completed at Seneca II-W by early January 2006. Reclamation <br />operations are on-going. <br />Various changes to the coal recovery plan and schedule, reclamation plan and schedule, <br />backfilling and grading plan and postmine channel designs, topsoil replacement plan, revegetation <br />plan, and reclamation cost/bonding sections of the permit application were made as a result of, <br />and in association with the early cessation of mining. Disturbed and affected area projections <br />were adjusted downward. <br />In addition to substantive changes to the operations and reclamation plans, SCC made several <br />organizational changes [o the permit application package in association with PR-5. Various <br />environmental resource maps and reclamation plan maps that had previously been presented as <br />two separate map exhibits, one map covering the original permit or "North Area" and a second <br />map covering the South Extension Area or "South Area", were consolidated into single map <br />exhibits. Specifically, former Exhibits 13-2 and 13-2A were combined into new Exhibit 13-2 <br />"Surface Hydrology", former Exhibits 19-1 and 19-1A were combined into new Exhibit I9-1 <br />"Backfill and Grading Schedule", former Exhibits 20-2 and 20-2A were combined into new <br />Exhibit 20-2 "Postmining Topography", and former Exhibits 22-1 and 22-1A were combined <br />Seneca II-W Findengs Document 7 July 3, 2006 <br />Petmit Renewal No. 5 <br />