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Chapter V <br /> This revegetation success study has been underway commencing with the 1983 <br /> growing season. Evidence is being collected that will show that the chemical and <br /> physical characteristics of the waste pile will support plant growth equal to the <br /> adjoining areas. <br /> h. Soil Testing Plan for Evaluation of <br /> Revegetation Procedures. <br /> See the discussion of Topsoil Reconditioning covered in this chapter under E-2-d for <br /> soil testing techniques followed by Mid-Continent prior to revegetation of any <br /> disturbed area. <br /> During sediment pond maintenance, sediment will be chemically tested to determine <br /> whether the material is suitable for topsoil. Upon receipt of the analysis and upon <br /> adequate verification the material will be either used as a growth medium, if suitable, <br /> or disposed in the coal refuse pile. <br /> 4. Rills and Gullies. <br /> The rill and gully repair program was approved by minor revision on July 24, 1985. <br /> The correspondence for the minor revision approving the rill and gully plan is found <br /> in Appendix V-E-4. As noted in the July 8, 1985 submittal by Mid-Continent to <br /> MLRD: <br /> RILL AND GULLY PLAN <br /> The Coal Basin mines have been in operation since 1956. The mine pads were <br /> constructed at 10,000+/- by down-sloping the material adjacent to the coal seams. <br /> Various other material was downsloped from 1956 to 1977 including trommel screen <br /> rock and road grading material. These outslopes are at the angle of repose or <br /> approximately 1 to 1 slope, and have many rills and gullies. We believe, first, that <br /> these slopes are grandfathered and so are exempt from a rill and gully plan and, <br /> second, when compared with the adjacent natural hill slopes they show <br /> approximately the same erosion pattern. Our present plan is to monitor our <br /> postmining stabilization test section (at #4 mine) and evaluate possible postmining <br /> stabilization/reclamation methods. This is a ten -year project along with our <br /> outslope vegetation test plot program and includes the entire mine road system. <br /> Old refuse pile. Portions of this pile date back to 1956 and are thus grandfathered. <br /> Some of these old portions have been reclaimed while others have not. It will be <br /> our policy to continue reclamation on these old areas as time, money and <br /> technology permit. <br /> The portion of the old pile that was constructed after 1977 will be inspected as snow <br /> cover allows; inspections to identify erosion problems will be conducted once per j <br /> 40 <br />