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In order to accommodate the alternative postmining land use and allow for retention of buildings, <br />roads, parking, and storage areas needed for the alternative use, the backfilling and grading plan was <br />altered by approval of PR -3. The revised postmining topography for the South Portals Area is <br />depicted on Exhibit 6C, and amended cross sections on Exhibit 26. The specific area to which the <br />AOC variance will apply, and the larger area to be used for the alternative "Industrial or Commercial" <br />postmining land use, are delineated on Exhibit 6C. Please see Section B.V1II of the Proposed <br />Decision and Findings of Compliance for PR -3 dated July 30, 2007, for findings specific to the <br />approval of the Steep Slope Variance from Approximate Original Contour. Please also refer to <br />Section B.X of the PR -3 Findings of Compliance, for findings specific to the approval of the <br />alternative "Industrial or Commercial" postmining land use at the South Portal facilities area. <br />A portion of the South Portal that is considered "Active Use" area is delineated on Exhibit 6C -A. The <br />"Active Use" areas were not revegetated; non - active use portions of the alternative land use area (such <br />as Access Road 1 backfill slopes, Access Road 1A fill slopes, and highwall backfill areas) were <br />revegetated to provide a stabilizing vegetative cover, but the alternative land use vegetated areas were <br />not required to meet the specific success criteria applicable to reclaimed Wildlife Habitat postmining <br />land use areas. The mine portals, the former warehouse and shop facilities, the preparation plant/raw <br />coal storage area, the lab /training facilities, and the equipment and material storage area atop the <br />refuse pile have been Phase III bond released. All remaining areas at the South Portals and vicinity, <br />with the exception of Ponds 8 and 9, have had a Phase I bond release including the sideslopes of the <br />Roadside South Refuse Disposal Area, RSRDA Borrow Area, and upper diversion ditches. <br />Within PR -3, SCC identified a material deficit for construction of Access Road 1 -A and elimination of <br />the highwall at the South Portal area. Material to compensate for the projected deficit would be <br />obtained from a low hill located within the Unit Train Loadout (UTL) disturbed area. Borrow of the <br />material from the UTL site would remove the crown of the hill, lowering the hill by approximately 10 <br />feet. This proposed minor reduction in the elevation of the hill is depicted on revised Exhibit 11C <br />(Unit Train Loadout Facility Post Mining Topography). The modification does not significantly <br />change the nature of the postmining landscape, and the amended topography will achieve approximate <br />original contour in the UTL area. <br />The North Decline was backfilled and graded in the spring of 1992. Material that had been piled <br />above the portal area was dozed into the decline. A fair approximation of extrapolated original <br />contours was achieved. The North Decline had been constructed prior to the Act so accurate records <br />of pre -mine contours do not exist. The final reclaimed contours blend with landforms observed in the <br />undisturbed surrounding landscape. The drainage channel of the unnamed drainage was reestablished <br />through the regraded area and riprapped with 12 -inch or greater riprap on the 7.5 percent slope areas <br />and 6 inches or greater on the 2.5 percent grades. Some minor settling of the fill has occurred above <br />the portal location since the initial backfilling and grading occurred, and some remedial grading has <br />been performed to fill in settling cracks and ensure proper functioning of the sediment control system. <br />Remaining backfilling and grading work is limited to removal of temporary drainage control <br />structures, and provision of berm breaks along the permanent channel berms to allow reclaimed area <br />runoff to enter the channel. <br />The North Portal facilities area was fully reclaimed in 2002, with the exception of temporary drainage <br />control facilities, an electrical substation and power line, and portions of two topsoil stockpiles. In <br />conjunction with future removal of the temporary upper diversion ditch and Sediment Pond 13, several <br />approved ephemeral drainage channels will be constructed across the reclaimed surface. <br />Permit Revision No. 5 40 July 10, 2012 <br />