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the local newspaper. Most blasting will occur mid-day early in the week. Daily notifications <br />will be made prior to each blast to certain individuals who have requested this service. <br /> <br />Perimeter haul roads, as shown on Map 2.05.3(3)-3, will be constructed within the disturbed <br />area. Three sediment ponds are proposed for collecting and treating runoff from the site. <br /> <br />Removal of the coal resource is expected to commence in 2013 and to be completed in 2018. <br />The primary coal seam to be recovered is the Lower Dakota seam; the Upper Dakota seam will <br />be recovered if it is thick enough and of sufficient quality. The rate of coal production, which <br />supplies Tri-State Generating and Transmission Association’s Nucla Station is estimated to be <br />350,000 to 460,000 tons per year. Coal will be transported to the plant by contracted haulage <br />trucks over a network of Montrose County roads. <br /> <br />Reclamation Plan <br /> <br />Reclamation activities will occur concurrently with mining. WFC estimates that each panel (or <br />cut) will be backfilled and graded within six months following removal of the coal. A typical <br />diagram illustrating the mining and backfill process is provided in Map 2.05.3-1 of the permit. <br />Following backfilling and grading, topsoil will redistributed to the thicknesses shown on Map <br />2.05.4(2)(d)-1. The type and thickness of topsoil will be related to the post-mining land use. <br />Replaced soils will be prepared for seeding as described in Sections 2.05.4(2)(d) and (e) of the <br />permit. The reclaimed lands will be capable of supporting the same uses that were present prior <br />to disturbance. <br /> <br />Water rights and usage <br /> <br />The only well within a 1 mile radius of NHN permit area that had an adjudicated water right <br />was Well Permit No. 92752, which is the Peabody Coal Company “Nucla Mine Shop Well”, <br />used for drinking and sanitation. According to WFC (see table 2.04.7-4) this well has been <br />abandoned. All of the wells listed on Table 2.04.7-4 are exempt from administration including <br />the Nucla Mine Shop Well. <br /> <br />There are no water rights associated with any of the other wells identified within or adjacent to <br />the NHN permit area. The wells within the permit and adjacent area are used for a variety <br />purposes including household use, domestic and livestock, and groundwater monitoring. <br />Ownership of the monitoring wells has been transferred from WFC to Montrose County. With <br />exception of the groundwater monitoring wells (completed in the Dakota Formation), all other <br />wells are completed in the underlying Morrison Formation isolated from any potential impact <br />from the proposed mining operation. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />17 <br /> <br />