Laserfiche WebLink
dry the coal prior to transferring the coal to stockpiles where it was eventually trucked <br />off site. <br />Reclamation Plan <br />Following cessation of mining operations at the Southfield Mine, the site was reclaimed <br />in accordance with the reclamation plan found in the permit document. All support <br />facilities were removed from the site or buried on site, in designated areas. The portals <br />were sealed and the area was then graded so as to return it to approximate original <br />contour. Ponds 1, 2 and 3 have been removed as part of the initial reclamation <br />performed at the mine. Ponds 4 and 5 and the associated ditches will be removed, <br />upon demonstration of successful revegetation, except the refuse pile ditches, which <br />are to be retained as permanent features. With the approval of Technical Revisions 15 <br />and 32, designs have been submitted, reviewed and approved to allow the Magpie <br />Creek diversion to be permanent. The disturbed areas have been covered with topsoil <br />and seeded and mulched so as to establish a diverse self-perpetuating stand of <br />vegetation. <br />Coal Refuse Permanent Stockpile <br />Coal preparation resulted in coarse and fine coal refuse which was placed in a <br />permitted permanent stockpile located on the mine site. Design capacity for the pile is <br />approximately 3.8 million cubic yards, with approximately 3.5 million cubic yards utilized <br />at present. Geotechnical stability analysis was conducted in 1981 by the original <br />permittee, Dorchester Coal, Inc. The report can be found in Exhibit 18 of the permit <br />application. In addition, an analysis of soil suitability for growth medium and <br />revegetation success was conducted in 1988 (see Exhibit 9 of the permit application). <br />Two rock underdrains have been constructed beneath the refuse pile to properly <br />dewater the refuse pile and contribute to slope stability. <br />Both coarse and fine materials were disposed of in the refuse pile. Fine materials were <br />initially dewatered to facilitate their consolidation after final deposition and compaction. <br />The pile has been approved to be at the height of 75 feet while retaining a factor of <br />safety greater than 1.5, with surveys of the pile indicating a height of no greater than 70 <br />feet. The Southfield Mine began contemporaneous reclamation of the pile in 1983 <br />when the eastern side of the pile was topsoiled and revegetated. The refuse pile <br />reclamation was completed by covering the remaining pile area with four feet of <br />noncombustible cover, then topsoil, seeding and mulching. <br />Reclamation of the Loadout <br />Reclamation of the loadout began with backfilling and regrading the area between July <br />and November 1996. A complete application for Phase I Bond Release was received <br />by the Division on 21 August 1997 and approved on 4 November 1997. The loadout <br />was reseeded in 1997 and, after what the Operator deemed inadequate vegetation, <br />again in 1999. Upon submittal and approval of a Phase II Bond Release for the loadout <br />(no sooner than 2004), the Operator will remove all of the surface water control <br />Page 10 of 36