Laserfiche WebLink
FACILITIES AREA PROJECT <br /> The Facilities Area Project accomplished reclamation of most mining related <br /> disturbances west of the Dutch Creek Diversion from the mine entry gate to the Rock <br /> Tunnel, excluding Road A. This Project addressed the reclamation commitments made to <br /> MidCon Realty, LLC during settlement of the lawsuit in the early summer of 1999. The <br /> Project Area was divided into three work areas; East of Road A, West of Road A and the <br /> Rock Tunnel area. <br /> East of Road A Construction Area <br /> The approximately two acre area located immediately east of Road A, and west of the <br /> Dutch Creek Diversion, was topsoiled and aggressively roughened using heavy <br /> equipment. About two thirds of this area is graded so that runoff will flow into a small <br /> ditch, and then pass through a series of hay bales before discharging into Dutch Creek. <br /> The portion of this area located north of the drainage ditch is protected by small, <br /> discontinuous berms located along the banks of the Dutch Creek Diversion. These berms <br /> will slow any drainage from this small area long enough for solids to fall out of <br /> suspension prior to the runoff discharging to Dutch Creek. <br /> West of Road A Construction Area <br /> Final reclamation of this area was accomplished in 1999. This approximately seven acre <br /> area was graded, topsoiled, roughened, fertilized, seeded and mulched. An over- <br /> steepened hill slope located behind the former location of the Wash Plant was graded to a <br /> 2.5 H : 1 V configuration. This activity helped to stabilize the hill slope, and generated <br /> cover material for the coal refuse material placed at the base of the slope in 1998 during <br /> completion of the Huntsman Project. A concrete drainage ditch, located adjacent to the <br /> south bank of Coal Creek was demolished. The concrete was removed and the area <br /> located between the toe of the coal refuse described above, and the crest of the south <br /> bank of Coal Creek, was graded so that a slight slope toward Coal Creek was created. <br /> Following grading and placement of cover material over the refuse, six to ten inches of <br /> topsoil was placed over the entire area west of Road A. The entire area was then ripped <br /> using a light dozer. Ripping occurred perpendicular to the fall of the slope, with rippers <br /> spaced at about fifteen to eighteen inches. Revegetation using the approved seed mixture <br /> and certified weed free straw mulch followed. <br /> Reclamation of the Old Coal Stockpile area was also accomplished at this time. This area <br /> is located immediately adjacent to the second switchback of Road A,just above the <br /> former location of the Wash Plant. Coal left on the ground was pushed to the base of the <br /> hillslope west of the area. Cover for the coal was generated by pushing dirt down from <br /> no longer functional ditches and terraces located part way up the hill. The area was <br /> graded so that drainage will flow primarily to the southeast into a small ditch which was <br /> constructed. This ditch will convey runoff from this area across Road A to the 010 <br /> Ponds. Upon completion of grading, the area was topsoiled, heavily scarified and <br /> revegetated. <br /> 8 <br />