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-1 :- The proposed operation in the Pittsburg and hfidway permit application for the Edna mine consists of a continuation of surface mining operations in the southern portion of the permit area on West Ridge and reclamation activities on Center Ridge and the develop- ment of a new surface mining area in the North portion of the permit area, the Moffat. The Rider Wadge and Wadge will be consistently recovered, whereas the Lennox and Lower Wadge will be recovered only where operationally and economically feasible. Production will iange from approximately 1,000,000 tons per year to 800,000 tons per year during the permit term (page 3.1-3 of the permit application). The primary stripping equipment to he used is a 40 cubic yard riragline. Backhoes or scrapers may be used for parting removal, or, in areas of thin overburden, primary stripping. This method of operation has an estimated swell factor of 20%. Generally, the stripping operation progresses from the bottom of the ridge, Leaving a buffer zone for Trout Creek, up the slope to the top where the coal outcrops, except for the '•lest Ridge area, where the mining progresses across-slope. The general sequence of surface mining and reclamation operations will progress as follows (with the sections in the application where the specific operations are described): 1. Removal of topsoil from sediment ponds, road and facilities areas (4. ?. 1). 2. Construction of roads (3. S). 3. Sediment pond construction (4.6.1). 4. Surface clearing (4.3.1). 5. Topsoil removal 01.3.1). 6. Removal of overburden and coal (?.2 an r! 3. 3). 7. Transportation of coal (3. 6). 8. Back filling and grading (3. 4). 9. Topsoil replacement (9.3.3). 10. Seedbed preparation and seeding (4.3.5 and 4.d). 11. Range management (4.5). 12. Facility and road removal (4. 8). 13. Reclamation of facility and road areas (4. 8). 14. Sediment pond removal and revegetation (4.8).