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Rule 6.4.12 EXHIBIT L - Reclamation Costs <br />In arriving at the following estimated costs for reclamation, the applicant made some <br />assumptions based on the Operator's current equipment fleet and costs to perform similar <br />earth moving operations in Moffat and Routt County. <br />Equipment to be Used for Final Reclamation. The equipment currently available for <br />final reclamation and associated dirt moving activities include Caterpillar model D8N <br />bulldozers; <br />Caterpillar model 235 tracked backhoes; and Caterpillar Model 627 twin engine scrapers. <br />The exact equipment which will be used for the application of the minimal mulch and <br />reseeding operations will be supplied by a commercial reclamation contractor. <br />Maior Phases of Reclamation. Each major phase associated with the final reclamation <br />is discussed in the following narrative. Where appropriate, the assumptions used to <br />determine the reclamation time and cost estimates are supplied. <br />A. Backfilling and Grading of the Mine Pit Area. Since a maximum of 35 acres of <br />disturbance will be allowed at one time then we will assume a worst case scenario in <br />which all 35 acres would require reclamation. The total linear footage of highwall would <br />be 4,600 If. The average cross-sectional area of backfill along the highwall would be 153 <br />sf. The overall volume of material is therefore 26,067 cy. Therefore, the earthwork <br />quantities for reclamation are: <br />Cut: 26,067 cy <br />Fill: 26,067 cy <br />Total: 52,134 cy <br />The costs to perform the 52,134 cy of earthwork would be $1.80/cy, which equals <br />$93,841. <br />The total costs for backfilling and grading the mine pit area is $93,841. <br />B. Topsoil Application. The amount of topsoil required to be placed is estimated to be 4" <br />thick over 35 acres. This equates to 18,822 cy of topsoil. The costs to place 18,822 cy <br />would be $1.80/cy which equals $33,880. <br />The total costs for topsoil application is $33,880. <br />C. Revegetation Costs. The reseeding costs for 35 acres of disturbed area will consist of <br />seed costs of approximately $ 70 per acre which equals $2,450. Seedbed preparation <br />costs will consist of chisel plowing or deep ripping at a cost of approximately $ 150 per <br />acre which translates to an estimated cost of approximately $ 5,250. Actual seeding costs <br />will be approximately $ 50/acre which equals $1,750. Clean straw or native hay mulch <br />will be applied at the rate of one ton per acre at an estimated cost of $ 280 per acre which <br />equals $ 9,800.