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Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />Nucla Mine <br />The presently permitted Nucla Mine encompasses 426,6 acres of which 145,7 <br />acres will be affected my mining activities, Several areas of ungraded <br />"pre-law" spoils existed when Peabody acquired the mine in 1963. These areas <br />were reclaimed in conjunction with existing mine operations, Since 1986 and <br />inclusive of 1988, coal was removed at a combined total of 311,750 tons from <br />four different areas. It is pro,iected that coal yields from the Nucla East <br />area in 1989 and 1990 will total 373,600 tons. <br />Prior to the mine temporarily ceasing operations in 1983, coal was mined using <br />two 5-yard draglines to remove overburden, Since reactivation of mining <br />operations in late 1986, Peabody has changed to using dozers and scrapers for <br />overburden removal activities. Two coal seams will be removed from Mine Areas <br />1 and 4, whereas one coal seam will be removed from Mine Areas 2 and 3, The <br />upper coal seam was previously mined b.v Peabody in Mine Areas 2 and 3 under <br />interim permit 75-36 issued by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. <br />Prior to disturbance, and in advance of the pit, brush is cleared and topsoil <br />is removed and salvaged, Topsoil is stockpiled if an immediate replacement <br />area is not available. If stockpiled, topsoil is seeded for protection, <br />After topsoil removal, the overburden is drilled and blasted in advance of the <br />pit. Overburden is then stripped by the dozers and scrapers. Peabod.v has <br />calculated a new overburden swell factor of 14.99%, reduced from the previous <br />swell factor of 25% when draglines were used. <br />After renaval of all coal seams which can economically be recovered, the pits <br />are backfilled and graded. The regraded area approximates the original <br />surface contours, Once topsoil, subsoil, or suitable overburden material is <br />placed as the plant growth medium, the area is seeded and mulched. <br />Nucla East Mine <br />Operations on the proposed Nucla East area will be similar to those at the <br />present Nucla Mine. Prior to any disturbance, sediment pond 007 and the <br />associated collection ditch along the southern permit area boundary will be <br />constructed, Then, in advance of the mining pit, brush will be cleared and <br />topsoil salvaged in either a double or mixed lift operation depending on soil <br />type, quality, and depth. Topsoil salvaging depths and plans are detailed in <br />Tab 9 of the permit revision application, <br />Whenever possible, topsoil will be live hauled to active reclamation areas. <br />However, this is not always possible and some topsoil will be stockpiled, <br />Stockpiled topsoil will be protected from wind and water erosion b.v roughening <br />and ditching around the pile, establishing an annual cover crop, or <br />establishing a perennial grass cover depending on the length of time a <br />stockpile will be in place. <br />Following recovery of the lower Dakota coal seam, the pit will be backfilled <br />to approximate original contour, Overburden testing will be done to ensure <br />that acid or toxic forming overburden is not placed within four feet of the <br />surface and areas retreated as necessary, Topsoil will then be replaced in <br />thicknesses of 1.0 feet on drvland pastures and 1,5 feet on irrigated <br />pastures. The areas will then be seeded and irrigated for pasture <br />establishment. <br />-14_ <br />