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reclaimed in the mid- 1990's. Final reclamation of remaining facility areas and refuse pile areas was initiated in <br />2000, with extensive earthwork and revegetation completed during 2002. Reclamation activity is continuing, <br />with final tasks to be completed following PR -5 approval. Initial tasks include removal of structures and <br />facilities, and sealing of underground openings. Following completion of structural demolition in a specified <br />location, the area is backfilled and graded to approved configuration. Topsoil is redistributed on most <br />reclaimed surfaces, and all reclaimed areas are seeded and mulched. Roads not approved for postmining use <br />will be removed when no longer needed for reclamation activities. Details of the reclamation plan are included <br />in Tab 14 of the approved permit application package. <br />Mine entries and ventilation shafts are sealed with concrete and at least ten feet of non - combustible material, or <br />simply backfilled with 25 feet of non - combustible material in accordance with procedures specified in the <br />approved permit. Drill holes and monitoring wells will be filled with drill hole cuttings or sealant and plugged <br />with cement. <br />Disturbed areas other than refuse areas will be backfilled to approximate original contour, with the exception <br />of a designated portion of the South Portal facilities area, for which the Division (within Permit Revision No. <br />3) approved a Steep Slope Variance from Approximate Original Contour, to allow for retention of facilities to <br />support an alternative "Industrial or Commercial" postmining land use. The reader is referred to Section <br />B.VIII of the Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for PR -3 dated July 30, 2007, for fmdings <br />specific to the approval of the Steep Slope Variance from Approximate Original Contour, and to Section B.X <br />of that document, for findings specific to proposed approval of the alternative "Industrial or Commercial" <br />postmining land use at the South Portal facilities area. There are no plans for retention of highwalls. <br />With PR -4, the Division proposes to approve an alternative "Industrial or Commercial" postmining land use for <br />the Unit Train Loadout area. See Section B.X of the PR -4 Findings document for specific findings applicable <br />to approval of the alternative postmining land use. <br />Refuse areas will be compacted and graded to final design contours and covered with the required thickness of <br />non - toxic, non - combustible material (24" on CRDA -2, 18" on RSRDA, and CRDA -1). This cover thickness <br />includes topsoil. <br />Temporary roads will be reclaimed when no longer needed for access during reclamation activities. All roads <br />will be reclaimed with the exception of roads approved for the postmining land use (listed in Section B.I. of <br />this document). Roads will be ripped, cuts and fills returned to approximate original contour, and the entire <br />surface regraded. <br />Topsoil will be redistributed approximately 6" thick on all reclaimed refuse disposal areas, the North Portal <br />facilities area, and the Cameo Borrow Area No. 2. Portions of areas which were disturbed prior to any <br />reclamation requirements and from which no topsoil was salvaged, including the South Portal area, and the <br />Unit Train Loadout were surfaced with at least 6 inches of the best available material on site following removal <br />of coaly material. Disturbed areas were drill seeded or hydroseeded with the seedmixes listed in Table 14 -2 of <br />the permit application. <br />Because of the low precipitation and saline and sodic soils, revegetation will be difficult. However, with <br />intensive management, the permittee should be able to revegetate the disturbed area with a diverse, effective, <br />and permanent vegetation cover similar to the surrounding area. Utilization of adapted plant species will aid <br />the success of vegetation reestablishment. Results of revegetation efforts conducted since the mid 1990's at <br />various permit area locations have been mixed, with some areas exhibiting diverse stands dominated by seeded <br />Permit Revision No. 5 12 July 10, 2012 <br />