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SENECA II-W MINE <br />• 2004 ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT <br />2004 DISTURBANCE AREA <br />The Seneca II-W Mine 2004 Reclamation Map, found in the Exhibits section of the 2004 Annual <br />Reclamation Report shows the limits of disturbance as of December 31, 2004. The disturbance line as <br />shown on this drawing depicts all disturbance assoaated with the mining operation including haul <br />road and pond construction, topsoil removal and storage, open pits, spoit piles, etc. There were 30.0 <br />additional acres disturbed in 2004. <br />BACRFILLING AND GRADING <br />Backfilling and grading operations occurred in the "A" pit and `B" Pit azea. A total of 26.3 acres were <br />graded in 2004. This azea is shown on the Seneca II-W Mine 2004 Reclamation Map. <br />SOIL AND SPOIL MONITORING <br />SCC is required by Permit C-82-057 to monitor the salvage, storage, and redistribution of soil and <br />spoil handling operations at Seneca II-W Mane. Specific programs include documenting soil recovery, <br />verifying soil redistribution thickness, dete~+*+ining final graded spoil suitability in the Lennox Coal <br />outcrop sampling area, determining soil fertility, evaluating plant rooting chataMeristics, recording the <br />source of replaced soil, and completing an annual soil balance. The following sections present the soil <br />• and spoil monitoring data fox the 2004 calendar yeaz. <br />• Soil Recovery Documentation <br />Soil recovery was documented by daily observation by the grading foreman and pit supervisor. This <br />quality control information is used to verify soil salvage estimates predicted from the baseline soil <br />survey, confirm soil map unit types, justify salvage thickness, and evaluate soil suitability. SoIl salvage <br />occurred in advance of the "South" pit during the 2004 field season as shown on the Annual <br />Reclamation Map. Observations within the tniaed brash, sandstone-derived soils indicated very <br />suitable loamy soil was salvaged down to the fractured sandstone bedrock. The thickness of <br />recovered soil ranged from 0.5 feet on ridge tops to about 3.0 feet in Swale or drainage landscapes. <br />Recovered soil was duectiy hauled to graded spoil of "A" pit. <br />SCC will continue to closely monitor soil-handling operations during the 2005 field season. Oaly <br />suitable sources of soil within the disturbance azea will be salvaged to ensure the reclaimed areas are <br />restored to the desired postmine land uses <br />• Soil Pit -Soil Fertility <br />Soil fertility and spoil quality samples aze collected periodically from shallow postmine soil pits, which <br />are randomly located using a 500-foot grid. The postmine soil pits aze also used to evaluate plant <br />rooting chazacteristics and to compare soil/spoil profile data with site specific revegetation data. <br />Shallow postrniue soil pits are also excavated periodically neaz representative revegetation monitoring <br />sites to evaluate plant rooting chataMeristics, determine soil Fertility, ensure spoil suitability, and <br />compaze soIl/spo$ data with site-specific revegetation data. The pits aze selected using an intensity of <br />one pit pet 25 acres of reclamation. Postmine soil pits are placed within reclamation blocks that have <br />been soiled and seeded for a minimum of three years. Similaz muumum time frames aze used for <br />monitoring postmine vegetation. The permaneat vegetation has generally established suffiaendy after <br />