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III III I II I II IIII III Doc Date:12/11/2001 sss Rule 1.05 • S~E: 2.05 OPERATIONS AND RECLAMATION PLANS It is important to note that much of the initial mine development occurred prior to promulgation of the Rules and Regulations of the CMLRB for Coal Mining and prior to submittal of the original permit application. It is also significant that after mining began, full development plans and production potential were never realized. Consequently the size of the mining operations and life-of-mine were significantly reduced from mine plans described in the original permit application. Of the estimated 6.75 million tons of reserves at H-G, approximately 4.2 million tons were removed over the shonened mine life. The intent of the following discussion is to briefly summarize the actual mining that occurred and describe in some detail the reclamation operations. 2.05.3 Operations Plan In March 1978 the initial phase of mine development began which included; 1) the construction of the coal handling train load out facilities, subsequently transferred to Hayden Gulch Terminal Inc., located approximately 2 miles south of Hayden, and 2) the construction of the mine support facilities adjacent to the now reclaimed pit area. The construction phase ended in June 1978 and affected approximately 38 acres at the mine area. Map 1 (See Exhibits, map pocket) shows pre-reclamation mine facilities and locations. The first phase of mining, which also occurred prior to submittal of the original mine permit • application, was the topsoil removal stage of [he Block B Mine area. This phase involved the removal of topsoil from the initial mine cut, and from portions of the permanent spoil pile area in Block B beginning in August 1978 and ending in June 1979. Approximately 119 acres were affetted during this phase. In December 1978, the third phase of mining activities began. This phase, referred to as the Block B development phase, involved the excavation of overburden from the pit area, and its disposal into a permanent overburden dump. The final phase of Block B mining in 1982 and continued until mining under this permit was terminated in 1986. Approximately 68 acres of land were affected during this period. Overburden was hauled direttly from the advancing mine face and backfilled into the previously mined cut. The Hayden Gulch Mine operated as a typical multiple seam open pit coal mine. A fleet of 32 cubic yard capacity scrapers, a hydraulic excavator, and 50 ton capacity trucks were used to excavate both the overburden and interburden in a two stage development sequence. The initial stage involved the open pit mining of the reserves at the northern limit of the mine and served the purpose of pre-stripping abox-cut as in a typical dragline operation. The initial excavation was made so-that the mine could begin a continuous backfilling sequence, which was the second stage of development. The backfilling sequence involved removal of waste materials in 200 foot wide cuts, and direttly placing the material back into the previously mined cut. This method allowed for restoration of the mined azea in as short a period of time as possible and minimized the area of major disturbance. Using this method, the mine progressed in a southerly direction with concurrent reclamation operations. • H:~B7] V'EItM nUtULE7-0S.HG 11/76/95 7:70pm mP51/cmc 2.05-1 Revised - 11/28/95