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• 2.05.4 Reclamation Plan Reclamation at the Blue Ribbon Mine was performed during 1986. The sediment control structures, the Hubbard Creek crossing and the access road to the No.S pond have not been reclaimed. The sediment control structures will be reclaimed when they are no longer required in accordance with Rule 4.05.6(12). By a letter to the Division dated December 14, 1987, G. H. Allen requested that the Hubbard Creek Culvert and the access road to Pond No. 5 be left in place to enhance the future use of the property for livestock grazing. The current plan for the culvert and road is to reclaim them concurrently with the sedimentation control structures. G. H. Allens' request will be addressed at a later date. The three mine portals were sealed in accordance with MSHA regulations. Non-combustible fill was placed in each portal for a minimum distance of 25'. An 8-inch solid cinder block wall, covered with mortar forms the final seal, see plate 16. This wall was notched into the roof ribs and floor to create a good seal. Major water inflows into the mine have been at least 80' lower than the portals and no inflows have been seen in portions of the mine higher than the portals. No detailed hydrologic studies have been done to determine the hydrologic head in the mine subsequent to mining, but these facts indicate that the water level will not reach the portal seals. • The surtace facilities were removed late in 1985 and in 1986 and foundations and other non-combustible, non-toxic material was used to backfill the portal bench. In its midterm permit review dated June 12, 2000, the DMG determined a variance from approximate original is not necessary because the deviation from the original contour - as evidence in Exhibit F-2 or the permit - is relatively insignificant. Appendix D presents a stability investigation of the mine area. The Operator backfilled the mine bench area with material obtained from the undisturbed hillside directly south of the mine bench. Approximately 10,000 cubic yards of material was removed from this site. The large rocks and steep slopes prohibited initial salvage of growth media. Soil sampling for fertility, salinity and texture was done on the reclaimed areas in order to amend the soil to assure revegetation success. Exhibit F-2 shows the approximate final contours of both the mine bench area and the hillside borrow area. The mine bench area backfill was placed on approximately a 15 degree slope from the invert of the drainage ditch on the top of the mine bench which left an approximate 35-foot highwall that is comparable to the approximate original contours. The hillside borrow area was not excavated to a slope greater than 25 degrees. The work was accomplished using a combination of a bulldozer and front end loader. r1 LJ 108 (Revised 9/00)