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West E(k Mine <br />Post-Mining Drainage and Sediment Control Plan <br />This plan is be carried out in three phases. The timing of each phase will be determined based upon <br />the establishmentof sufficientvegetationto control runoff. <br />Phase One will involve the removal of all surface facilities (except those described below), <br />backfilling and recontouring as necessary all cuts and recontouring all fills. All unnecessary access <br />and haul roads will be removed as described in the Diversions and Collection Ditches and <br />Impoundments Section. Only the main access road will be retained to access the main drainage <br />ditches. During this phase however, even this road will be partially reclaimed, leaving only enough <br />road width to allow passage of a pickup truck. All sedimentation ponds which aze needed to <br />maintain sediment control during this initial reclamation phase will be retained. <br />Phase Two will begin when the vegetation becomes sufficiently established to reduce the sediment <br />load from runoff so that with control measures such as water spreading, undisturbed area water <br />quality conditions can be met. At this time, the sedimentation ponds would be removed. Since the <br />post-mining land use is grazing and wildlife habitat, portions of some of the sedimentationponds <br />may be converted to wildlife and livestock watering ponds. This of course, would be done in <br />cooperation with the appropriate regulatory authorities. <br />During this phase, the major ditches flowing to Sedimentation Ponds MB-1 and 2 will be water- <br />barred to spread the runoff over the established vegetation for irrigation and filtering. In steep areas, <br />where erosion may be a problem, small catchment basins made from straw bales or soil may be <br />i built to slow the velocity and retain sediment. <br />During Phase Three, the remaining access road and ditches will be reclaimed when water quality <br />monitoring indicates that the vegetation is sufficiently established to control sediment loading and <br />that undisturbed area water quality conditions aze being met by the runoff. Any small remaining <br />areas that need reseeding and mulching will be revegetated at this time. <br />(2) Reclamation Cost Estimate <br />The revegetation cost estimate (Exhibit 53) represents the estimated costs for demolishing <br />facilities, backfilling and grading, and revegetating the West Elk Mine site. These costs aze <br />expressed in the current dollar value at the time of calculation; however, most areas will not be <br />scheduled for revegetation until mine closure approximately 40 years from now. <br />(3) Backfilling and Grading <br />Information on backfilling and grading has been presented throughout Section 2.05.4. Please refer <br />to specific sections, such as those on roads and major surface facilities, for backfilling and grading <br />procedures relating to reclamation. <br />r. <br />2.~5-84 Revised Dec. 1997 MR208; Revised Jun. ]999 TR90 <br />