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a stabilized mine bench and reduce the potential for further <br />instability of the mine bench. <br />1.3 BACRGROUND <br />1.3.1 Introduction <br />The mine bench area has been the subject of numerous site <br />evaluations and analysis associated with current operating <br />conditions and long-term reclamation stability. These conditions <br />have been evaluated and reported in previous studies by Rocky <br />Mountain Geotechnical, performed and submitted in 1982. These <br />reports addressed conditions of the highwall at the time of the <br />investigations, representing slope stability conditions for the <br />operational state of the mine bench and evaluation of proposed <br />alternatives for final reclamation of the mine bench. The <br />results of the previous analyses showed virtually, under any <br />condition, the bench fill slopes were unstable with theoretical <br />factors of safety less than unity. The overall highwall slopes <br />above the portal facilities were found to be stable with factors <br />of safety greater than 2 and presented little potential for <br />instability as a result of circular failure through the intact <br />rock. <br />Reclamation alternatives were evaluated utilizing methods similar <br />to those performed for the operational conditions. The overall <br />results for the analysis of the reclaimed slope provided factors <br />of safety equal to or greater than 1.3. The reclaimed condition <br />was represented by slopes of 21 degrees or less over the bench <br />2 <br />