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east to west with the long axis of the pits generally north to south. The <br /> overburden will be excavated using dozers and a shovel and trucks and then <br /> placed or pushed into an adjacent or nearby mined-out pit panels , with the <br /> exception of the initial cut , which will be placed adjacent to the pit onto <br /> land designated as a temporary overburden stockpile (see Map 2.05.3-1 ) . <br /> During overburden removal operations , some selective handling of material <br /> will be performed based on chemical and physical core data contained in <br /> Section 2.04.6, Geology Description, and discussions presented in Section <br /> 2.05.4(2)(d) , Topsoil (Redistribution) of the permit application. <br /> Following recovery of the lower Dakota coal seam, the pit will be backfilled <br /> to approximate original contour. Overburden testing will be done to ensure <br /> that acid or toxic forming overburden is not placed within four feet of the <br /> surface and areas retreated as necessary. Topsoil will then be replaced in <br /> thicknesses of 1 .0 feet on dryland pastures and 1 .5 feet on irrigated <br /> pastures . The areas will then be seeded and irrigated for pasture <br /> establishment. <br /> Operations on Prime Farmland <br /> Operations on the prime farmlands identified in the southeast portion of the <br /> New Horizon Mine 2 permit area will be substantially the same as on other <br /> areas except for soil handling procedures. Soil on prime farmland will be <br /> removed in a two-lift operation. One foot of topsoil and three feet of <br /> subsoil will be removed, stored separately and replaced. As soil is being <br /> replaced, each 12- to 18-inch lift will be scarified to reduce compaction, <br /> increase infiltration, promote surface roughness , and produce a more favorable <br /> plant root growth medium. The prime farmland areas will then be revegetated <br /> with species suitable for hay production and will be used for irrigated <br /> hayland. <br /> Water Rights and Usage <br /> The water rights , usage and augmentation plan is presented in Section <br /> 2.05.6(3) of the permit application. There are 11 surface water rights <br /> which have the potential of being impacted by Western Fuels operations at <br /> New Horizon Mine 2 . These are upgradient of proposed Sediment Pond 007 at the <br /> site . There are 29 water wells adjacent to the mine sites . Of these, just <br /> two, W-009 and D-041 on Figure 2 of Tab 16, could be impacted by future mining <br /> activities at the New Horizon 2 site . These two wells are 150 feet or less <br /> deep and derive their water from near surface aquifers . At the end of five <br /> years of operation, Western Fuels estimated that drawdown might be one foot <br /> within a 0.7 mile radius of the center of the New Horizon 2 pit. Western <br /> Fuels proposes , with owner consent , to monitor these wells to detect any <br /> changes in their hydrologic conditions . <br /> Western Fuels-Colorado will use the following alternative water sources to <br /> mitigate any ground or surface water right impacts . Western Fuels has <br /> available 114.5 acre-feet of surface water, which is a consumptive use credit <br /> .associated with Western Fuels ' ownership of 27 shares of the Colorado <br /> Cooperative Company (CCC) . Western Fuels has an absolute 4 acre-foot storage <br /> right for the 001 reservoir at the New Horizon 1 mining area and is projected <br /> to have 18 acre-feet of pit pumpage during the non-irrigation season available <br /> -12- <br />