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During the preceding permit term (1983-1987) the major additional surface <br /> disturbances resulted from work on the Adit/Rock Tunnel, and the current Sutey Coal <br /> Refuse Disposal Area. <br /> Water <br /> Mid-Continent has designed and constructed water control structures (sediment ponds, <br /> diversion ditches, berms, culverts, etc.), and closed water use systems to mitigate <br /> adverse impacts on the existing hydrologic balance. <br /> Sediment loads within the Coal Basin are naturally high. This is due to the geology <br /> (large expanses of exposed Mancos shale), steep terrain and large volumes of runoff <br /> generated primarily by snowmelt. <br /> The Coal Basin mine plan is designed to minimize the impacts on the surface and <br /> ground water of the area. Drainages from all mine disturbed areas are routed through <br /> one or more sediment ponds. <br /> In the sediment pond series are 30 sediment ponds, 6 Best Available Technology <br /> Ponds, and 3 sediment ponds approved but not yet constructed, with a total capacity of <br /> 50.84 acre feet. <br /> Reclamation <br /> Disturbed Area in the Coal Basin operations totals 332.9 acres. Mid-Continent has <br /> established reclamation procedures to establish on all affected lands a diverse, effective <br /> and permanent vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety native to the area of <br /> disturbed land, or species that support the post-mine land use. N <br /> i )t"f- <br /> When an area is to be disturbed Mid-Continent follows a basic re.cLimetian plan which <br /> is outlined as follows: <br /> — All vegetation is cleared and site drainage structures are <br /> installed. <br /> — Topsoil is removed to a pre-determined depth, based <br /> on soil studies, and is transported to an approved soils <br /> storage area that will not be disturbed during the life of <br /> mine operatons. <br /> — The topsoil pile is then seeded with an approved <br /> temporary seed mix. <br /> 15 <br />