Laserfiche WebLink
in the permit) to provide a suitable plant growth medium. Subsequent to the initial <br />permitting, salvage and stockpiling, the unique nature of the material was acknowledged, <br />and the material is now described as "topsand ". <br />As topsand replacement in reclaimed areas progressed with reclamation, it was noted <br />(beginning with the topsand replacement in Area 9) that the topsand material from below <br />the surface (the lower material in the salvage topsand column) contained more of a clay <br />fraction, and therefore retained more moisture, making it more beneficial to establishment <br />and growth of replaced vegetation. Since that observation, Coors Energy Company has <br />replaced the upper salvaged topsand first (the material with less clay, often referred to as <br />"sugar" sand), and covered this material with the topsand from lower in the salvage <br />column containing more clay. This has resulted in more rapid and consistent revegetation <br />establishment. <br />Methods of Topsand Replacement <br />Replacement of topsand on the reclaimed areas of this bond release application was <br />predominantly by scraper methods. Topsand was removed from the topsand stockpiles by <br />belly pan scraper, hauled to the area to be reclaimed, and spread (replaced) by the scraper. <br />The depth of replacement was measured in the field and additional material added by <br />scraper until at least two feet of the topsand material had been replaced on the reclaimed <br />area. Any final grading or spreading of the topsand material was undertaken by dozers or <br />motorgraders. <br />Topsand Amendments <br />Topsand amendments for the reclaimed areas in this bond release application were either <br />manure or A -1 compost product (also called Biocomp) applied at the rate specified in the <br />permit. The amendments were applied after final topsand grading and prior to <br />revegetation. <br />Topsand Replacement Thickness <br />Topsand replacement thickness was at least two feet for all areas reclaimed. <br />Dates of Topsand Replacement <br />Topsand replacement, in the majority of reclaimed areas, took place the year prior to <br />revegetation (revegetation dates are specified on the appended maps). <br />Description of Bond Release Amount Request: This Phase II bond release application <br />requests release of bond and liability for successfully establishing vegetation and <br />demonstrating that suspended solids contributions to runoff or streamflow outside the <br />permit area do not exceed pre - mining levels at Areas 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 23 and <br />29 totaling approximately 51.05 acres in size. This sedimentology demonstration in this <br />application shows the areas reclaimed meet the requirements for erosion control, and <br />Coors Energy Company Keene5burg Mine Page 3 <br />Phase 11 Bond Release: Areas 2, 5, 6, 7,9, 10, 15, 16,19, 23, and 29 <br />