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treats drainage from a majority of the site, including the lower refuse pile. MB-3 is a small lower <br />pond which treats drainage from the silo storage area. MB-4 serves the train loadout area and <br />MB-5 treats drainage at the old Bear Mine site. A two-celled, lined pond controls sediment from <br />the Refuse Pile Expansion. The NSSA pond treats runoff from the North Soil Storage Area. <br />Sediment control pond SG-1 is located within Sylvester Gulch to treat runoff from the disturbed <br />area associated with ventilation shafts. Mountain Coal Company also has a freshwater pond, <br />designated FW-1, which provides two months' storage capacity for potable and domestic water <br />uses. Another proposed freshwater pond, FW-2, has not been constructed at this time and is not <br />planned for construction during this permit term. <br />Topsoil storage areas are located on the east side of the surface facilities. This is known as the <br />main topsoil stockpile and will be used during reclamation to cover the majority of the <br />disturbance to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. Other topsoil and subsoil piles are located south of the <br />lower refuse pile and on the reclaimed benches. These piles will primarily be used to cover the <br />refuse pile with 18 to 24 inches of soil. <br />Of the approximate 17,155 acres in the permit area, approximately 422 acres are disturbed, which <br />primarily includes surface facilities and methane degas pads. <br />Upon cessation of mining at the West Elk Mine, reclamation will return the disturbed land to a <br />rangeland and wildlife habitat land use. Some reclamation activities will occur during the life of <br />the mine as areas cease to be used for mining activities. Final reclamation includes sealing the <br />mine portals, removing the surface facilities, and returning all disturbed areas to the approximate <br />original contour. The waste pile will be shaped to blend into adjacent topography. The mine <br />area will be smooth-graded, and compacted areas will be ripped or scarified to eliminate slippage <br />surfaces, establishing a suitable bond for the overlying seedbed material. Topsoil, which has <br />been salvaged during construction of the surface facilities, will be redistributed over the <br />disturbed area. Drainage control will be retained until the revegetation operation is underway <br />and erosion is under control. Following the distribution of topsoil and final grading, the newly <br />shaped surface will be prepared for planting. Surface preparation will include loosening and <br />roughening the surface by disking, harrowing, or dragging. Various conditioners and neutralizers <br />may be used to modify the seedbed conditions to ensure successful establishment of a vegetative <br />cover. The site will then be planted using West Elk's Permanent and Riparian Seeding mix. <br />Various species of shrubs will also be planted. <br />18