2008-03-12_REPORT - C1982057 (2)

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• SENECA II-W MINE 2007 ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT 2007 DISTURBANCE AREA There were no additional acres disturbed during 2007. '1 he Seneca II-W Mine area has been reviewed and revised (based on physical surveys and aerial photography) to accurately portray the categories of activities: the final disturbance boundary has been updated to match the aerial photography; potential permanent roads and ponds delineated, etc. The total disturbance is 1,381.5 acres. This acreage is reflected on the CD1~IS Annual Report Form and is included in the teat of the following report. The attached 2007 Reclamation maps portray the physical disturbance boundaries but do not include or show the 96.6 acres associated with the Tie-Across Haul Road. BACKFILLING AND GRADING There were a total of 92 acres backfilled and graded in 2007. Backfilling and grading operations occurred in the South Wadge and Sage Creek~Wolf Creek pit areas. These areas are shown on the attached 2007 Graded Areas map. TOPSOIL AND SPOIL MONITORING SCC is required by Permit C-82-057 to monitor the salvage, storage, and redistribution of topsoil and spoil handling operations at the Seneca II-W It~Iine. Specific programs include documenting topsoil recovery, verifying topsoil redistribution thickness, determining final graded spoil suitabilit}~, determining topsoil fertility, evaluating plant rooting characteristics, recording the source of replaced topsoil, and completing an annual topsoil balance. The following sections present the soil and spoil monitoring data fox the 2007 calendar year. The results of topsoil spoil monitoring for 2007 are included in the attached Soils Report. • Topsoil Recovery Documentation There was no additional topsoil recovered during 2007. • 2007 Topsoil Replacement Thickness In order to document and record the topsoil replacement thickness for each reclamation block, a minimum sampling intensir<~ of one hole per five acres is required; however actual sampling is conducted on an approtiiinate 500 foot grid. "lhe topsoil replacement thickness information is used to adjust future topsoil replacement projections, if necessary, and for bond release purposes. There were eighteen (18) samples collected over the 2007 topsoil replacement area as shown on the attached 2007 Soil Samples map. Table 07.6, II-W Topsoil Depth Samples indicates an average topsoil replacement thickness of 1.2 feet (14.8 inches) over the 2007 replacement area and an overall mine wide replacement depth of 1.8 feet (21.6 inches). • Soil Pit -Topsoil Fertility/Spoil Suitability Three deep backhoe pits were eycavated at randomly selected geographically distributed sites. A total of fifteen (15) samples were collected from the three pits. The sampling included the reapplied topsoil, to the underlying spoil contact, as well as the underlying spoil material to a depth of at least 60 inches. All reapplied topsoil samples have "good-rated" suitability quality material.