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- Revegetation of the cut and fill slopes which exist along the road system; <br /> - Removal of all structures, including mine related power lines; <br /> - Reclamation of the road system; <br /> - Partial backfilling of the mine and Rock Tunnel highwalls; <br /> - Grading, topsoiling and revegetation of the coal refuse piles and the Rock Tunnel Waste Dump; <br /> - Revegetation of all disturbed areas. <br /> The mining and reclamation permit describes the requirements and, to a limited extent, the <br /> methodology of accomplishing reclamation. In more quantitative terms, the permit specifies the <br /> outcome of the reclamation process, and defines the standards upon which success of the <br /> reclamation effort is to be measured. As allowed by the Act, Mid-Continent had been granted an <br /> exemption from completely backfilling the mine entry highwalls. Only partial reconstruction of <br /> the original slope was required of the company. Stabilization of the two coal refuse facilities and <br /> of the Rock Tunnel Waste Dump was required, as was reclamation of the road network. <br /> Removal of all structures from the site was required in the permit, as is backfilling to original <br /> contour(or ground level) certain roads and other existing cut slopes. Revegetation of all mine <br /> related disturbances is also described in the permit and in other pertinent documents. <br /> Revegetation of the mine bench outslopes is described and standards for measuring success of <br /> this effort are defined in the permit. In'fact,the permit required Mid-Continent to establish a <br /> series of revegetation test plots at various locations on a number of mine bench outslopes in order <br /> to demonstrate the feasibility of revegetating these slopes. Some of the test plots have <br /> demonstrated that revegetation of the slopes can be successfully accomplished. <br /> RECLAMATION PROCESS <br /> Reclamation of a large coal mining operation is a multi-part process, containing many individual <br /> tasks. For instance, when reclaiming one of the five mines a number of steps need to be taken. <br /> First, environmental conditions need to be evaluated and prioritized. This needs to be <br /> accomplished because the reclamation plan, which was originally drafted in the late 1970's and <br /> early 1980's couldn't foresee the problems which would develop after fifteen to twenty years of <br /> mining related activities had transpired. Once the environmental conditions are evaluated and <br /> problems prioritized a work plan is drafted which must meet the requirements of the Act,the <br /> approved reclamation plan and the environmental priorities . <br /> A typical reclamation sequence at the mine entries proceeds as follows: Construction of concrete <br /> block walls within the mine entries to prohibit continued access; removal of all metallic <br /> materials, such as buildings and equipment; demolition and removal of concrete structures <br /> follows. This includes demolition and removal of foundations and underlying footers. The <br /> concrete is removed to the base of the highwall where it can be buried by earthen materials. Not <br /> only does this provide a foundation of sorts to the backfill, but it helps to protect the mine entries <br /> from re-entry by the public. Following the demolition and disposal sequence, earthen materials <br /> are excavated and placed against the highwall for its length, to a pre-determined height, and to a <br /> pre-defined slope angle. This serves to bury the concrete, and partially backfill the highwall as <br /> required by the permit. The earthen materials are excavated from the mine bench outslopes. If <br /> properly planned, excavation of the upper portion of the mine bench outslope can not only <br /> 5 <br />