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identified. Of these, only one was considered significant; a stone hearth. The applicant <br />entered into an agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office regarding mitigation <br />measures of the site. Copies of all survey and testing reports are on file with the State <br />Historic Preservation Office. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The Seneca II Mine is a surface operation that used area strip techniques. Mining in the <br />original permit area began in 1968, in the northern portion of the permit area. The duration <br />of the operation occurred during three different regulatory periods (Pre-law, Interim Program, <br />and Permanent Program). Mining progressed southward in the Wadge and Wolf Creek pits. <br />The original permit area disturbance included the pit areas; office and maintenance facilities; <br />five sedimentation and two maintenance area ponds; the Wolf Creek fill area; the solid waste <br />disposal area; and numerous haul, access, and light use roads. <br />Surface disturbance in the reduced permit area includes the reclaimed surface mining pits from <br />the Wadge seam; a permanent access road; a permanent light use road; and permanent <br />sediment control structures which include collection ditches, Channel SIIPM-8, and Pond 008. <br />There are also permanent fences in place around grazing areas and a shrub concentration area, <br />and to delineate ownership boundaries. All of the disturbance in the reduced area occurred <br />after August 30, 1980, and is subject to the Permanent Program Rules. <br />The Wadge pit mined the Wadge coal seam to depths of 100 feet, was oriented northwest to <br />southeast, and progressed in a northeast direction. Coal removal was completed in this area in <br />August, 1999. All mining has ceased at the Seneca II Mine, only reclamation activities are <br />ongoing at the site. <br />Area strip mining techniques used at the mine included vegetation removal, topsoil stripping, <br />fragmentation and removal of overburden, fragmentation and removal of coal, spoils grading, <br />topsoil replacement and revegetation. <br />Vegetation removal was limited to large woody plants which would interfere with topsoil <br />removal. Trees and shrubs are brushed and backfilled in previously mined pits or placed as <br />brush pile habitat on final graded spoil slopes. Lower stands of less woody vegetation were <br />incorporated into topsoil, increasing organic matter in the soils. <br />Topsoil salvage depths ranged from zero (in steep slope and rock outcrop areas) to 60 inches. <br />Salvaged topsoil was removed by scraper and bulldozer equipment and stockpiled. When <br />conditions permitted, topsoil was salvaged and immediately redistributed on graded spoils. <br />Overburden was fragmented with explosives. Bulldozers prepared benches to allow for <br />drilling with a rotary drill. Drill holes were loaded with ANFO (ammonium nitrate - fuel oil) <br />or other approved blasting agents. Fragmented overburden was removed by dragline and <br />spoiled into the previous pit. <br />6