2007-07-30_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981041

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Section B.VIII ofthis document, for findings specific to proposed approval oftt~e Steep Slope Variance from Approximate Original Contour, and to Section B.X of this document, for findings specific to proposed approval of the altemativi: "Industrial or Commercial" postmining land use. Tha~;re are no plans for retention of highwalls. ' ~'' I; Refuse areas will be compacted and graded to final design contours and coverec~,with the required thickness of non-toxic, non-combustible material (24" on CRDA-2, 18" on RSRDA, and C]tDA-1). This cover thickness includes topsoil. i Temporary roads will be reclaimed when no longer needed for access during recllamation activities. All roads will be reclaimed with the exception of roads approved for the postmining lama use (listed in Section B.I. of this document). Roads will be ripped, cuts and fills returned to approximate original contour, and the entire surface regraded. i ~, Topsoil will be redistributed approximately 6" thick on all reclaimed refuse disposal areas, the North Portal facilities azea, and the Cameo Borrow Area No. 2. Portions of areas which' were disturbed prior to any reclamation requirements and from which no topsoil was salvaged, including i:he South Portal area, and the Unit Train Loadout will'be surfaced with at least 6 inches of the best availalile material on site following removal ofcoaly material. Disturbed areas will be drill seeded or hydroseedeil with the seedmixes listed in Table 14-2 of the permit application. Because of the low precipitation and saline and sodic soils, revegetation willbe difficult. However, with intensive management, the permittee should be able to revegetate the disturbed~area with a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetation cover similaz to the surcounding area. Utilization of adapted plant species will aid the success of vegetation reestablishment. Results of revegetation efforts conducted since the mid 1990's at various permit area locations have been mixed, with some areas exhibiting divere stands dominated by seeded grasses and shmbs, and other areas characterized by poor perennial cover, U~w diversity, or a significant cheatgrass component. The operator has conducted limited inter-seeding treatments within areas of poor establishment on the lower benches of CRDA-2 and at the North Decline, and has re-treated small areas of poor establishment at the' South Fan and North Portal area. Modifications have been incorporated into the revegetation plan over the course of operations based on monitoring results and observation, in order to enhance the potential for ;success. Such modifications have included adjustments to the seedmixes and more aggressive seedbed roughening treatments for steep slope broadcast seeding areas, and efforts to suppress cheatgrass competition tkrough herbicidal suppression and interseeding. ' Current Reclamation Status Prior to cessation of coal extraction in December 1999, final reclamation activity had been limited to the lower benches of the CRDA-1' and CRDA-2 refuse disposal areas (1994), and cidrtain ancillary facility areas including the North Decline (1991-1993), South Lease exploration drill sites';and roads (1985/1986), and Northwest Intake Portal (1993). The South Fan facility area and associated bonrow area and access road, and the 2 West Portal disturbed area was reclaimed in 2000 and 200E Final reclamation including structural demolition and removal, backfilling and grading, topsoiling, and revegetatidn began on a large scale in 2001 /2002. As of July 2b07, final reclamation has been largely completed at i number of additional major facility areas including CRDA-1 and CRDA-2 refuse areas, RSRDA refuse ;irea slopes, the North Portal facility area, Cameo Soil Borrow Areas CBA-1 andCBA-2, the Roadside Soil Eorcow Area, and the overland conveyor corcidor, including the section of conveyor that had been suspended ever the Colorado River. The major facility areas where significant reclamation work remains to be done include the South Portal Facilities (facilities removal, grading, drainage construction and revegetation)~ and the Unit Train Loadout Permit Revision No. 3 ''~ Permi[ No. C-1981-041 July 30, 2007 ~ ~ Page 14