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Topsoil will be redistributed approximately 6" thick on all reclaimed refuse disposal areas, the North Portal <br />facilities area, and the Cameo Borrow Area No. 2. Portions of areas which were disturbed prior to any <br />reclamation requirements and from which no topsoil was salvaged, including the South Portal area, and the <br />Unit Train Loadout will be surfaced with at least 6 inches of the best available material on site following <br />removal of coaly material. Disturbed areas will be drill seeded or hydroseeded with the seedmixes listed in <br />Table 14-2 of the permit application. <br />Because of the low precipitation and saline and sodic soils, revegetation will be difficult. However, with <br />intensive management, the permittee should be able to revegetate the disturbed area with a diverse, effective, <br />and permanent vegetation cover similar to the surrounding area. Utilization of adapted plant species will aid <br />the success of vegetation reestablishment. Results of revegetation efforts conducted since the mid 1990's at <br />various permit area locations have been mixed, with some areas exhibiting diverse stands dominated by seeded <br />grasses and shrubs, and other areas characterized by poor perennial cover, low diversity, or a significant <br />cheatgrass component. The operator has conducted limited inter-seeding treatments within areas of poor <br />establishment on the lower benches of CRDA-2 and at the North Decline, and has re-treated small areas of <br />poor establishment at the South Fan and North Portal area. Modifications have been incorporated into the <br />revegetation plan over the course of operations based on monitoring results and observation, in order to <br />enhance the potential for success. Such modifications have included adjustments to the seedmixes and more <br />aggressive seedbed roughening treatments for steep slope broadcast seeding areas, and efforts to suppress <br />cheatgrass competition through herbicidal suppression and interseeding. <br />Current Reclamation Status <br />Prior to cessation of coal extraction in December 1999, final reclamation activityhad been limited to the lower <br />benches of the CRDA-1 and CRDA-2 refuse disposal areas (1994), and certain ancillary facility areas <br />including the North Decline (1991-1993), South Lease exploration drill sites and roads (1985/1986), and <br />Northwest Intake Portal (1993). The South Fan facility area and associated borrow area and access road, and <br />the 2 West Portal disturbed area was reclaimed in 2000 and 2001. Final reclamation including structural <br />demolition and removal, backfilling and grading, topsoiling, and revegetation began on a large scale in <br />2001/2002. As of, final reclamation has been largely completed at a number of additional major facility areas <br />including CRDA-1 and CRDA-2 refuse areas, RSRDA refuse area slopes, the North Portal facility area, <br />Cameo Soil Borrow Areas CBA-1 and CBA-2, the Roadside Soil Borrow Area, and the overland conveyor <br />corridor, including the section of conveyor that had been suspended over the Colorado River. <br />Significant reclamation work was completed in 2008 at the South Portal Facilities including, facilities removal, <br />grading, drainage construction and revegetation. Another major facilities area where significant reclamation <br />work remains to be done is at the Unit Train Loadout (facilities removal, grading, and revegetation still to be <br />completed). Dismantling of the conveyor belt structure is currently in progress at the UTL Loop area. Fill <br />material from a low hill within the UTL facilities area was used for construction of a new access road and <br />reclamation backfill in the South Portals area, as approved in PR-3. Reclamation of the South Portals area is <br />completed. Reclamation of the Unit Train Loadout is to be completed by the end of 2009, in accordance with <br />the reclamation schedule set forth in permit Figure 14-1. <br />Temporary sediment and drainage control structures including diversion and collection ditches and sediment <br />ponds will be reclaimed at some point in the future; following demonstration that vegetation cover is sufficient <br />to ensure that sedimentation from reclaimed areas does not exceed that from adjacent undisturbed areas. <br />Sections of the Coal Canyon permanent channel diversion near Pond 6, and the Coal Gulch drainage in the <br />Permit Revision No. 4 12 February 3, 2009