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were being constructed along the south perimeter of the new pond and near the backfilled <br />portals, only a thin layer of soils covered coal refuse that comprised part of the old portal <br />backfill materials. A total of about 4,000 cubic yards of coal and coal refuse was <br />removed from the site and was hauled to MCC's coal refuse pile. Clean subsoil materials <br />were hauled from other on-site stockpiles to properly backfill the portals and to restore <br />the grade to the designed configuration where it had been over-excavated to remove the <br />debris. By removing the coal and coal refuse from the portal backfills, among other areas <br />of the old mine site, future coal combustion, subsequent slumping and the failure of the <br />portal seals was potentially averted. <br />When the final designed configuration of the pond ditches, road and bridge were <br />achieved, the site was seeded and the south perimeter slopes covered with mulch mat. <br />The entire north side of the pond and former mine site bench area was rip-rapped with <br />native rock materials to armor and protect the site from flooding and erosion damage for <br />many years to come. <br />Photo 1 - A west to east view of the old Bear Mine site prior to construction of the new <br />pond. MCC's train loadout is visible in the background. <br />Photo 2 - Buried coal and coal refuse that was removed.