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<br />• TOPSOIL REMOVAL <br />The first phase of the expanded gravel pit operation will be the removal of <br />all suitable topsoil material. The topsoil will be removed by scrapers or <br />other suitable equipment. The topsoil will either be placed in a designated <br />topsoil stockpile (Exhibit D-I) or replaced directly on regraded overburden. <br />One or two additional topsoil stockpiles will be needed. These stockpiles will <br />either be placed in the area ahead of mining or in an area that has been <br />mined but awaiting final revegetation. Once stockpiled, the topsoil will be <br />rehandled as little as possible until replacement on the regraded area. <br />OVERBURDEN REMOVAL <br />After the topsoil material is removed and stored, the overburden above the <br />grovel deposit will be removed by scrapers. The overburden consists mainly <br />of clay with Bondy clay and some brown shales mixed in. The thickness of <br />the overburden ranges from approximately 3 feet to 14 feet. The under- <br />burden consists mainly of gray and brown shale and will not be disturbed by <br />mining. See Exhibit D-I for thicknesses. The overburden material will be <br />• removed with scrapers and stockpiled in locations shown on Exhibit D-I, <br />Mining Plan. . <br />It is estimated that approximately 26,000 cubic yards (average) of over- <br />burden will be removed each year. PCC may vary slightly from this sched- <br />ule, depending on the quality of the gravel. If, once the gravel is uncovered, <br />it is found that the deposit contains more fines than anticipated, the mar- <br />ginal gravel will have to be supplemented with better material. This will <br />increase the area disturbed that year and also the tonnage removed. <br />GRAVEL REMOVAL <br />After the overburden material is removed, the next phase is the gravel <br />removal. The gravel deposit, ranging in thickness from 7 feet to 16 feet as <br />shown on Exhibit D-I will be removed primarily with front end loaders which <br />may be supplemented with other appropriate mining equipment as deemed <br />necessary. The gravel will then either be loaded into haul trucks or stock- <br />piled in or near the pit for future use. The primary use of the gravel will be <br />• for the construction and maintenance of Seneca Coals, Ltd: s coal haulage <br />roads. <br />D-3 <br />