2009-02-04_REPORT - C1981041 (2)

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SNOWCAP COAL COMPANY 2008 ANNUAL HYDROLOGIC REPORT OCTOBER 1, 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Introduction During the 2008 Water Year, the "Year", the mines were idle. Mining ceased at the Roadside Portals on December 2, 1999. The North Mine was sealed on February 10, 2000. The Roadside South Mine was sealed on April 12, 2000. The South Fan was sealed May 22, 2000. The 2 West Portals were sealed on April 24, 2000. Production at the Roadside North utilized room and pillar mining with a continuous miner and shuttle cars. Reclamation of CRDA-2 was completed in 2002. The sediment retained by the drop structures in Coal Canyon was harvested for cover material. Material excavated during construction of the upper diversion ditch was also used as cover material. A small amount of cover material was obtained from CBA-1. Topsoil was obtained from Topsoil Stockpiles 2, 7, 8 and 9. Reclamation of CRDA-1 was also completed in 2002. Cover material was obtained from CBA-2. The road to CRDA-1 was left open to accept coal and refuse material from other ongoing reclamation activities. The road begins at the west end of Haul Rd No. 5 and extends to the top of CRDA-1. The North Portal was regraded to approximate original contour during 2002. Backfill material • came from areas filled near Coal Creek and around the coal stockpile area. During 2002 the RSRDA was graded to final contours. The existing cover was graded off of the slope and used as cover below the first bench. Refuse material was cut from the pile to establish two 10' - 15' wide benches on 30' to 40' elevation intervals. This refuse material was placed in an extension of the pile to the north. Cover material was obtained from the RSRDA borrow area. During 2003, a portion of the conveyor corridor was regraded and seeded. This work extended from the culvert under Excel's frontage road to the culvert under the railroad loop. The conveyor bridge over the Colorado River was removed during the year. During 2004, the conveyor corridor, from the Xcel culvert south to Transfer Building #2 and east of the Colorado River where the conveyor tube crossed the river, was graded to approximate original contours and seeded. No reclamation was performed in 2005 or 2006. During 2007, a permit revision (PR-3) was approved to change the land use at the South Portal from Fish and Wildlife to Industrial/Commercial. Final grading was completed for the approved . reclamation plan. During 2008, seeding was completed at the South Portal and the "G" Substation was removed, graded to approximate original contours and seeded.