Laserfiche WebLink
Reclamation Plan <br />Following cessation of mining operations at the Southfield Mine, <br />the site will be reclaimed in accordance with the reclamation plan <br />found in the permit document. All support facilities will be <br />removed from the site or buried on site. The portals will be <br />sealed and the area will then be graded so as to return it to <br />approximate original contour. All ponds and diversions will be <br />removed except the refuse pile ditches, which are to retained as <br />permanent features. With the approval of TR15, designs have been <br />submitted, reviewed and approved to allow the Magpie Creek <br />diversion to be permanent. The disturbed areas will be covered <br />with topsoil and seeded and mulched so as to establish a diverse <br />self-perpetuating stand of vegetation. <br />Coal Refuse Permanent Stockpile <br />Coal preparation results in coarse and fine coal refuse which is <br />placed in a permitted permanent stockpile located on the mine site. <br />Design capacity for the pile is 3.3 million cubic yards, with 2.8 <br />million cubic yards utilized at present. Geotechnical stability <br />analysis was conducted in 1981 by the original permittee, <br />Dorchester Coal, Inc. The report can be found in Exhibit 18 of the <br />permit application. In addition, an analysis of soil suitability <br />for growth medium and revegetation success was conducted in 1988 <br />(see Exhibit 9 of the permit application). Two rock underdrains <br />have been constructed beneath the refuse pile to properly dewater <br />the refuse pile and contribute to slope stability. <br />Both coarse and fine materials are disposed of in the refuse pile. <br />Fine materials are initially dewatered to facilitate their <br />consolidation after final deposition and compaction. The pile has <br />been approved to be at the height of 75 feet while retaining a <br />factor of safety greater than 1.5. The refuse pile reclamation <br />will be completed by covering the remaining spoil area with four <br />feet of noncombustible cover, including topsoil, seeding and <br />mulching. The Southfield Mine began contemporaneous reclamation of <br />the pile in 1983 when the eastern side of the pile was topsoiled <br />and revegetated, then again in 1987 and 1991. Progressive <br />reclamation of regraded stockpile areas occurs on an annual basis. <br />Two foot lifts of the refuse are compacted until the permitted <br />height of 75 feet is reached. <br />Reclamation of the loadout will involve removal of surface water <br />control structures and grading to approximate original contour. <br />Topsoil will be spread on site followed by seeding and mulching. <br />Topsoil stripping depths and recovery have varied at the mine site <br />and loadout. This is due to the previous pre-law mining <br />disturbance and subsequent loss of topsoil coupled with a the <br />presence of a rocky sub-strata "B" horizon consisting primarily of <br />cobbly, unconsolidated colluvial/alluvial outwash materials. <br />Topsoil recovery has been from 0-1 foot as a result in some <br />locations. In order to facilitate successful revegetation, EFCI <br />has agreed to prepare the disturbed areas for seeding by ripping <br />18 <br />