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Following topsoil salvage, mining pits will be opened in the northern part of <br />the permit area and proceed towards the south. Box cut material from the <br />mining areas will be stored 1n temporary spoil ptles. If coal blending from <br />the mining areas is necessary, then mining may occur to two areas <br />simultaneously. If mining all three areas simultaneously is necessary, then <br />prior to the start of mining the third area, the bond will be increased as <br />necessary. Coal will be mined from the lower Dakota 2 and 3 seams which are <br />of mineable thickness throughout the permit area. Coal will be trucked from <br />the mine via county roads GG 25 and HH 31 for delivery to the buyer. The <br />lower Dakota 4 seam is of mineable thickness in the southern portion of the <br />permit area. At a coal production rate of 350,000 tons per year, the mine has <br />an expected life of approximately 7 years, from initial disturbance to final <br />reclamation. <br />Some of the overburden layers were found to be acidic. The operator has <br />committed to testing and identifying these overburden layers and selectively <br />handling them so none of this acid producing material is replaced within four <br />feet (including topsoil cover) of the reclaimed surface. To ensure that this <br />happens, the operator has also committed to a regraded overburden sampling <br />program to identify acid overburden and treat those areas accordingly to <br />provide four feet of cover or to neutralize the acid forming potential of the <br />material. These plans are located on pages 2.05-12 and 12i of the permit <br />application. <br />Overburden from pits other than the original box cuts will be placed in <br />preceding adjacent pits and graded to approximate original contour. Topsoil <br />will then be replaced and the area will be seeded with an approved mix of <br />predominantly native grasses, fortis and shrubs. At the end of coal removal, <br />the operator will replace the temporarily stored overburden into the final <br />pit, grade it to approximate original contour, replace topsoil and seed the <br />area. <br />Topsoil will be replaced to a final thickness varying from 10 to 20 inches. <br />The replacement plan is more specifically addressed in Section 2.05.3(5) of <br />the permit. Weed free straw mulch will be applied to reclaimed areas <br />following seeding. Mulch will be applied at a rate of 4,000 pounds per acre <br />and crimped to along the contour. Following successful establishment of <br />vegetation, all surface water diversions and sediment ponds will be reclaimed. <br />Non-coal waste will be stored at the mine office facilities and picked up <br />periodically by a commercial trash service. Waste oil and grease wilt be <br />disposed of in two ways. During summer months some of the waste o11 will be <br />added to diesel fuel and consumptively used. All other waste oil and grease <br />will be accumulated in metal storage containers and periodically removed from <br />the mine site by an approved waste oil service. <br />Water Rights and Usage <br />The application states that all water to be used on site, principally for dust <br />control on roads and for domestic purposes, will be hauled from the town of <br />Naturita. <br />The only adjudicated water right within one mile of the permit area is the B & <br />W Spring No. 1, located in Braiers Draw approximately one quarter mile from <br />-7- <br />