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SENECA COAL COMPANY YOAST MINE I. HISTORY ANDBACBGROLJND Seneca Coal Company operates the Seneca II, Seneca II-West, and the Yoast Mines in Northwest Colorado. Seneca Coal Company began coal production in 1968 at the Seneca II Mine. The mining progressed to Seneca II-West in 1990 and to Yoast in 1996. Coal production totally ceased in January 20061eaving 4,000 acres of disturbed and partially reclaimed land within the Seneca mining complex. The terrain and climate provide interesting, and intriguing challenges to mining and reclamation technology, equipment operation, post mine contouring and revegetation. The coal lies at a 18-33% pitching grade. The terrain varies in elevation from 6,300 feet to 8,500 feet. The climate in Northwest Colorado provides a 65-day growing season. The annual preapitation is 17 inches of moisture, mostly in the form of snow. The post mine land use for Seneca reclamation is wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. Most of this land was overgrazed prior to tnining and invasive weeds continue to be a challenge. The post mine terrain is steep, up to 33%, resulting in significant erosion potential. The Yoast Mine area contains 846 disturbed acres, and as of October 2006, 674 acres have been backfilled and graded; 605 acres topsoiled;and 571 acres reseeded. The success of the reclamation program at Seneca Coal Company is evident even within a climate of changing regulations, high altitude, and very steep adverse slopes. II. GOALS OF THE YOAST MINE RECLAMATION PROGRAM • Establish a successional stage of vegetation capable of sustaining and improving over time. Cooperate with all stakeholders, (landowners; Div. of Wildlife; Div. of Recantation, Miuiug and Safety; Office of Surface Mining; and environmental groups), to establish a successful reclaimed and useable landscape. • Continuously improve the reclamation process to enhance the land and leave the land in a condition equal to or better than we found it. III. RECLAMATION PRACTICES Normally, azea surface mining is restricted to coal reserves laying in a relatively level plane below a level or gently rolling surface terrain. However, at the Yoast Mine, the geologic structure is such that the coal seam outcrops at the top of the mountain and dips at 18% to 33%, while the overlying surface dips at approximately 18% to 35%. The relatively high angle of dip on the coal seam and surface requires some creative modification of what would be considered a conventional backfill and grading plan. All backfilled and graded spoils are graded to create an irregulaz topography. In addition, reclaimed areas with an overall slope grade of 30% ox more require special attention. SCC has funded geotechnical stability studies to ensure acceptable factors of safety are achieved on these steep slopes. In these steep slope conditions, gravity works against you. As the coal is uncovered the overburden Yoart Mine - 2006 Reclamation Award Nomination page 1