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2008 ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT <br />• NH1 <br />Farming by adjacent landowners continued as in past years on the 6.4 ac field in the NW <br />portion of the NH1 Permit Area. The landownerwas contacted and stated that no fertilizer <br />was applied. One cutting was harvested for approximately 7 tons (2,188lbs/acre) of grass <br />hay. Western Fuels did not applied fertilizer to a 45.65 acres parcel. Exhibit 2008-1 shows <br />fertilizer application rates and locations as well as production. Exhibit 2008-1 denotes <br />pasture-yields where applicable. For reference, Exhibit 2008-2 shows the pre-1993 <br />disturbance at NH1. Please note that the NH1 boundary changed in 2001 as a result of <br />MR-52. <br />NH2 <br />Existing Disturbance <br />During 2008, 25.9 acres of new disturbance were associated with the mining program at <br />the New Horizon 2 Mine. A total of 18.0 acres was topsoiled; this is shown on Exhibit <br />2008-6. No permanent seeding was completed in 2008. Only temporary/short term areas <br />such as stockpiles, ditches, and roadways; this accounted for approximately 28 acres. The <br />2008 Disturbance and Seeding Maps, Exhibit 2008-3 and 2008-4, respectively show the <br />areas either disturbed, seeded, during 2008. No reseeding was performed in 2008. <br />Backfilling and Grading <br />• During 2008, 42.8 acres (see Exhibit 2008-7) were graded at New Horizon 2. Backfill <br />grading was accomplished by backfilling the empty pit with a truck-shovel fleet and then <br />final grading with D-9 dozers and/or 14G grader. <br />Soil and Spoil Scarification <br />The following soil and spoil scarification techniques were used while grading the <br />reclamation area. Prior to growth media soil replacement, the final graded spoil was <br />scarified to a depth of 6 to 18 inches using ripper shanks attached behind a motor grader <br />or a dozer. This scarifying operation effectively reduced compaction, runoff, improved <br />infiltration, and improving rooting depths. <br />Soil and Spoil Monitoring Data <br />New Horizon Mine is required by Permit C-81-008 to monitor replaced soil and final graded <br />spoil and submit the information to the Division. Monitoring programs include verifying soil <br />replacement thickness and determining final graded spoil quality. Exhibit 2008-6 depicts <br />topsoil thickness and sample locations. Exhibit 2008-7 depicts backfill spoil sample <br />locations and shows backfill placement limits. <br />Spoil Quality <br />The spoil sampling and analysis program approved for New Horizon Mine is described in <br />Section 2.05.4(2)(d)-6 Regraded Spoil Monitoring Program of Permit C-81-008. Five (5) <br />topsoil samples and two (2) backfill spoil samples for 2008 were collected from within the <br />New Horizon 2 area. The soil samples were collected by a hand auger. Each backfill <br />sample site consists of two subsurface samples; one is a 0 to -2 ft interval, the other a -2ft <br />to -4 ft intervals. Sample identifiers are given the suffix A and B, respectively. <br />F:\Eng\DATA\Word\Ann Reclaim Report\2008\2008RECRPT.doc