Laserfiche WebLink
several proposed alternative portal construction plans, and several reclamation configurations for <br />this area. <br />The geotechnical investigation and stability analysis determined that the affected bedrock slope <br />stability above the mine portals could be improved by the excavation of a thin surficial deposit of <br />colluvial debris. The resulting surface would be in a stable, rock-bolted sandstone face. <br />The geotechnical investigation and stability analysis determined that the portal cut slope and <br />bench fills could not attain static slope safety factors in excess of 1.3, as required by Rules 4.14 <br />and 4.27. After reclamation, the static slope safety factor would be less than 1.3. The static <br />slope factors attained by the reclaimed configurations represent decreases of less than five <br />percent of the existing stability factors for the same areas. <br />Bear Coal Company installed appropriate monitoring facilities in order to verify the stability of <br />the operational and reclaimed slope stability of the portal access road and portal facilities. As <br />provided for in the permit application, monitoring stopped two years after the reclamation of the <br />road. <br />The Division considers the backfilling and grading plan for the Bear No. 3 Mine to be in <br />conformance with the permanent program regulations with the imposition of two stipulations in <br />the original Findings Document. Detailed engineering plans (Stipulation No. 10), and portal <br />bench monitoring (Stipulation No. 21) were requested by the Division. Both stipulations were <br />satisfied previously and, therefore, have been terminated. <br />No underground development waste was placed on the surface at the Bear No. 3 Mine. The Bear <br />Coal Company disposed of underground development waste within the abandoned workings <br />(First East panel) of the Bear No. 3 Mine. <br />With successful completion of the requirements of the two stipulations, the Bear Coal operation <br />is in compliance with the provisions of this section. <br />XI. Revegetation <br />Revegetation activities at the Bear No. 3 Mine included topsoil replacement, seedbed <br />preparation, seeding, and mulching. No topsoil was applied to the backfilled and graded portal <br />area and portal access road, although the area was seeded and mulched right after backfilling and <br />grading in 1997. The west yard area was topsoiled in 1999, but not seeded until 2000. There was <br />limited interseeding within a 3 acre area in 2001. <br />Cover measurements on the reclaimed area will be taken along randomly located transects. A <br />point frame will be used to record 50 equally spaced measurements per transect. A minimum of <br />ten transects will be required. Vegetation cover will be recorded by species. First and second <br />hits on vegetation will be used in the calculation of percent cover. Each separate transect would <br />be one sample, with the percent cover value for each sample determined by totaling the first hits <br />on vegetation and dividing by 50. Hits on bare ground, rock and litter will be recorded <br />separately. If sample adequacy is not met with ten transects, additional transects will be located <br />and measured until adequacy is obtained. <br />Herbaceous production sampling will consist of clipping the herbaceous vegetation in quarter <br />meter plots located along the previously discussed transects. Five plots will be clipped along <br />each transect. A minimum of five transects, the first five randomly selected transects, will be <br />21