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and the Sylvester Gulch fan road. The Lone Pine Gulch road has been designated as a light- <br /> use road and provides access to a ventilation fan. <br /> Surface runoff from the disturbed area is treated by five ponds. MB-1 is a large upper pond <br /> that holds mine discharge water and drainage from the upper areas of the site including the <br /> mine bench. MB-2R is the large lower pond which treats drainage from a majority of the <br /> site, including the lower refuse pile. MB-3 is a small lower pond which treats drainage from <br /> the silo storage area. MB-4 serves the train loadout area and MB-5 treats drainage at the old <br /> Bear Mine site. Mountain Coal Company also has a freshwater pond, designated FW-I, <br /> which provides two months' storage capacity for potable and domestic water uses. Another <br /> proposed freshwater pond, FW-2, has not been constructed at this time and is not planned for <br /> construction during this permit term. <br /> Topsoil storage areas are located on the east side of the surface facilities. This is known as <br /> the main topsoil stockpile and will be used during reclamation to cover the majority of the <br /> disturbance to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. Other topsoil and subsoil piles are located south <br /> of the lower refuse pile and on the reclaimed benches. These piles will primarily be used to <br /> cover the refuse pile w:.h 18 to 24 inches of soil. <br /> The permit area covers approximately 8,040 acres. Of this total, about 108 acres are <br /> disturbed, which primarily includes surface facilities. Surface lands are privately and <br /> federally owned. Atlantic Richfield Company, Larry and Elaine Mautz, and the U.S. Forest <br /> Service are the majority landowners of the permit area for the West Elk Mine. <br /> Upon cessation of mining at the West Elk Mine, reclamation will return the disturbed land to <br /> a rangeland and wildlife habitat land use. Some reclamation activities will occur during the <br /> life of the mine as areas cease to be used for mining activities. During reclamation, the mine <br /> portals will be sealed, surface facilities removed, and the entire disturbed area will be <br /> returned to approximate original contour. The waste pile will be shaped to blend into <br /> adjacent topography. The mine area will then be smooth graded, and compacted areas will <br /> be ripped or scarified to eliminate slippage surfaces, establishing a suitable bond for the <br /> overlying seedbed material. Topsoil, which has been salvaged during construction of the <br /> surface facilities, will be redistributed over the disturbed area. Drainage control will be <br /> retained until the revegetation operation is underway and erosion is under control. Following <br /> the distribution of topsoil and final grading, the newly shaped surface will be prepared for <br /> planting. Surface preparation will loosen and roughen the surface by disking, harrowing, or <br /> dragging. Various conditioners and neutralizers may be used to modify the seedbed <br /> conditions to ensure successful establishment of a vegetative cover. The site will then be <br /> planted using West Elk's Permanent and Riparian Seeding mix. Various species of shrubs <br /> will also be planted. <br /> 16 <br />