Laserfiche WebLink
~~- ~ ' iii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii • <br />999 <br />MESA GRAVEL COMMENTS <br />I. Early in the stages of planning, I requested that the postmining slopes not exceed 3:1 <br />and preferrably flatter, if at all possible, to facilitate farming. Thus, this idea was <br />carried through all stages of planning and is evidenced by Exhibit F-2, postmining <br />topography map. Cover cropping or mulching will be used for stabilization and <br />moisture conservation, even though the latter is not necessarily critical in the area <br />of the proposed gravel pit. Peabody Coal Company (PCC) has available a Reinco <br />type mulcher for any mulching that will be done. The alternative to this is the use <br />of a cover crop for stabilization until the perennial seed mix can be seeded. This <br />approach is being used at the Seneca II Mine to the east with good success. The <br />cover crop of barley, used because of less volunteering problems, is disced down <br />prior to the barley maturing seed. In addition, all operations are done on the contour <br />whenever possible. These methods are used at the Seneca II Mine where erosion on <br />even the steepest reclaimed slopes is held to a minimum and the permanent seed <br />mixes are becoming readily established. <br />The regulatory authority should be aware that the same equipment, personnel, and <br />methods used at the Seneca II Mine will be used for reclamation at the Mesa Gravel <br />Pit. <br />2. Gas -Peabody Coal Company has a signed agreement with Western Slope Gas Com- <br />pony, attached, which in short holds PCC liable for any damage incurred as a result <br />of mining operations. <br />Telephone -See attached letter from Mountain Bell. <br />Power Lines -Peabody Coal Company requested from WAPA their recommended <br />safe distances from the power line structures. The result is the letter in Appendix <br />D-I of the application. <br />It should be pointed out that the 200 foot distance imposed by Ruled 1.56(5) puts <br />every man-made structure into the same class. Where as in many cases, like the <br />telephone line, staying off their easement is more than a sufficient safe distance. <br />