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generate the fill needed at the highwall,but can also accomplish redirection of water drainage <br /> from the mine bench. The drainage of water resulting from snow melt runoff and summer <br /> thunder storms was identified during mine operations and upon the environmental appraisals <br /> done prior to beginning reclamation as a major cause of environmental degradation within Coal <br /> Basin. By excavating a small portion of the top of these long slopes, drainage patterns are <br /> altered, which is the first step in stabilizing these slopes. Following completion of the excavation <br /> and backfilling process, drainage ditches and containment berms, if desirable, are constructed. <br /> Finally, the ground surface is ripped using heavy equipment. Organic materials may be <br /> incorporated into the ground at this time to promote development of a soil. A seed bed is <br /> prepared, and the area is revegetated using a seed mixture developed for this area. Straw mulch <br /> is applied to protect the seed and to provide additional organic materials. Planting trees follows <br /> the reseeding process by a few years. <br /> RECLAMATION ACCOMPLISHED BY THE DIVISION <br /> The Division has accomplished a significant amount of reclamation at the Coal Basin Mine since <br /> initiating reclamation operations in 1995. Of the approximately 333 acres of disturbed area <br /> identified by Mid-Continent in their permit application, the Division has reclaimed 168 acres <br /> using funds from the Trustee at a cost of$1,257,547. This work includes demolition and <br /> disposal of concrete materials, earth work, channel construction, topsoil application in some <br /> instances, and revegetation. Additional costs have been incurred to construct a fence at one of <br /> the waste piles, and to perform emergency maintenance of the Dutch Creek Flume. <br /> The Division has identified areas within the Coal Basin Mine Permit area which require <br /> reclamation or remedial work. However, it was clear that at some of these projects did not fall <br /> within the scope of the reclamation plan. Therefore, funding from other sources was pursued. In <br /> three of the four instances where additional work is necessary, the Division was successful in <br /> generating grant funds. A request for funding via a Federal grant for the fourth area is pending. <br /> Mine Entry Reclamation <br /> Mines 1, 2, 3 and 4 were reclaimed by the Division. Mine 5 was reclaimed by Mid-Continent. <br /> The reclamation sequence for the each of the mines reclaimed by the Division is basically as <br /> described above, except that contractors to Mid-Continent constructed the concrete block walls <br /> within each mine, and removed most of the steel and power lines from each site. Division <br /> contractors demolished and disposed of the concrete materials, which were substantial, partially <br /> backfilled the highwalls using dirt excavated from the upper most portion of the mine bench <br /> outslopes, created diversion ditches and containment berms and revegetated the mine benches <br /> and the highwall backfill. <br /> Revegetation of small portions of the mine bench outslopes was undertaken at Mines 1 and 3 in <br /> order to demonstrate various revegetation techniques. The revegetation efforts at the upper <br /> portions of the south facing mine bench outslope at Mine 1 and at the north facing mine bench <br /> outslope at Mine 3 were successful. <br /> Costs And Acreage By Project <br /> Mine 3 $186,372 17 acres <br /> 6 <br />