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Seneca <br />ro <br />osed to utilize the backfillin <br />d final <br />r <br />din <br />r <br />d <br />E <br />hibi . <br />p <br />p <br />g en <br />g <br />g sequence p <br />a <br />opose <br />on <br />x <br />t • <br />19-1 and the reclamation schedule discussed in Teb 79 to achieve the proposed postmining <br />topography on Exhibit 20-2. In summary, the annual projection of areas graded are 6~ased <br />upon certain considerations. First, approximately two spoil rows are normally graded <br />simultaneously once the pit configurations become regular to achieve the desired <br />postmining land configuration and to effectively maintain topographic continuity between <br />grading sequences. The number of spoils associated with irregular box cuts, certain <br />inside or outside curves, short pits, foci li ty areas, and haulage ramps may exceed four <br />spoil rows to facilitate grading. Second, the time when grading of specific spoils can <br />begin is based upon excavation cycle times and pit configuration. Rough 6ac kfilling and <br />grading will be kept within four spoil ridges and within 180 days, except es discussed <br />above. Cycle times are dependent upon factors such as pit configurations, excavator <br />performance, and customer demand. Third, once grading begins, the number of acres graded <br />annually in a given pit is approximately equal to the number of acres disturbed annually. <br />In certain circumstances, this generalization may not apply because of spoil material <br />needed to achieve the designed postmining landform. For example, the backfilling and <br />grading of box pit spoil, final highwalls, and deep ramps typically require the movement <br />of large volumes of spoil for great distances end requires up to two years after coal • <br />removal for final grading. ALSO, certain box cut spoil areas (where box cut material is <br />spoiled on recoverable coal) will be temporarily ungradeable until the recoverable coal is <br />stripped (see Exhibit 19-1). All of the acres graded in a given year are projected to be <br />topsoiled and seeded as soon as possible based on the reclamation timetable, and will <br />represent reclaimed acres in Table 19-7. Soil replacement will be completed within one <br />year following final grading, provided the area is not being used for facility or <br />monitoring-related activities (i.e., items such as, but no[ limited to ramps, deadhead <br />routes, light use roads, haul roads, ponds, drainages, diversions, boneyerds, office, or <br />shop areas). If final grade is achieved during fall or winter months, soil will be <br />redistributed the following summer or fall to accommodate fall seeding. Yhen final grade <br />is accomplished during spring or summer months, soil will be redistributed by fall to <br />accommodate fall seeding. <br />The most significant disturbance is advance topsoil removal which must be completed by <br />November 1 of each year in order to allow the overburden removal operation to continue <br />during the winter and wet spring months. The efficient removal of topsoil at Yoest is <br />considered to be virtually impossible during the six-month period from November 1 to May 1 • <br />of any given year. Consequently, at the end of any given year, approximately one-third of <br />6 <br />