2009-02-24_REVISION - M1980178 (6)

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material down to loosen it up and then feeding it to the crusher. This process was a little old fashioned as removing top was slow and difficult due to the up and down of the natural surfaces and all of the roots and debris had to be removed before crushing could occur. The purchase of a larger excavator simplified this part of the mining. With the excavator it was easier to achieve the necessary goals, but benching was required and leaves a larger highwall than the original depth that was an arbitrary number by the original plan. We have mined to the northeast boundary backfilling all top soil and debris and overburden along the northern highwall which currently is within 100 feet of the mining face. A minimum 100 foot gap needs to be maintained between the open face and the backfill to keep roots and wood out of the crusher products. We would like to continue piling all of the overburden behind the mined area and using it to achieve the necessary 3H :1V slope. With the excess material being pulled westerly or pushed with a dozer until all of the north slope has been reclaimed at a 31-1: IV slope. The last 1/4 of the north slope will be mined no steeper than a 3H:!V slope to insure sufficient material can be,available for the end 3H:1V slope on the extreme northern boundary when it is reclaimed. There remains about 1/2 acre left to be mined at the southeast boundary that will be mined by excavating the wood and roots from the surface, again being hauled to the north side for backfill. The remaining area will be mined at a3H:1V slope up to the pit boundary working around the road entrance to insure that it remains at a steepness easily accessible by trucks. There remains one area midway on the east boundary where 1/4" material is being stockpiled for future sales until ample room can be found elsewhere to pile it. This area will be pulled down at a 31-1: IV slope when the pile has been sold or when final reclamation is necessary. There is more material now to complete the 3H: IV slope than is necessary. The remaining area where the crusher and stockpiling is will be taken back to the original level to create a reasonable floor at the original level when the mining began; with the floor keeping close to the 1% slope to the southwest so that the drainage continues to the natural drainage located on the southwest side of the pit. All of the overburden pushed into this area will be again moved to the north side of the pit and again be spread out on the 31-1: IV slope on the north side for final reclamation. Any material in the crusher area that can be recycled or crushed will be. The remaining area would be leveled with the slope to