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-61- <br /> Of the 27 acres to be permitted at the coal load-out, only 2.7 acres require <br /> sediment control . The remaining area is either undisturbed or paved roads. <br /> Runoff from the 2.7 acres is controlled by a sediment pond. The information <br /> submitted by Mid-Continent indicated that this pond was not large enough to <br /> contain a 10-year, 24-hour flow plus sediment storage. However, the applicant <br /> was very conservative in calculating sediment yields using 0. 1 acre-feet per <br /> acre of disturbance. The Division recalculated sediment yields using the <br /> Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) . Even when the Division used very <br /> conservative factors in the USLE, the sediment pond was found to be adequately <br /> sized. The emergency spillway is adequately sized to pass the 25-year, <br /> 24-hour peak flow. Since this pond is incised, dewatering to the maximum <br /> sediment storage level will be by pumping. <br /> The present zoning of the load-out area is agriculture or industrial , and the <br /> entire property is owned by Mid-Continent. The load-out has been at its <br /> present location since 1956. Two commercial businesses adjoin the load-out <br /> permit area. At the end of mining, Mid-Continent proposes to convert the <br /> property to some other commercial business. The offices will remain and the <br /> coal storage slot bin will be converted into a warehouse. The conveyor belts <br /> and the coal load-out tipple will be removed. The railroad spur will remain, <br /> and the ground surface will remain the same, with the exception that <br /> additional buildings may be constructed. <br /> Mid-Continent has proposed an alternate reclamation plan if the load-out is <br /> not reclaimed to a commercial business, which calls for removing all existing <br /> structures, grading the area to approximate original contour and revegetating <br /> with native shrubs, grasses and forbs. <br /> Based on the above discussion, the Division hereby approves the industrial <br /> post-mining land use and the alternative land use. <br /> With the exception of an alluvial valley floor adjacent to the load-out <br /> facility, which is discussed in the alluvial valley floor section, no other <br /> problems were noted with the load-out facility. <br /> Steep Slope Mining <br /> Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. submitted a request for variance from <br /> approximate original contour requirements based upon steep slope mining <br /> conditions, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2.06.5. The majority <br /> of the surface facility disturbances for roads and mine portal benches exists <br /> in areas of original slope greater than 200. The applicant has requested <br /> that these areas be returned to various post-mining topographic <br /> configurations, a portion of which differ from approximate original contour. <br /> This request is judged appropriate by the Division in the case of the Coal <br /> Basin Mines. However, additional data and detailed reclamation designs are <br /> being required through stipulations in other sections of this Findings <br /> Document. For discussion pertaining to these topics, see Section XVII , <br /> "Backfilling and Grading", and Section XX, "Roads". <br /> With satisfactory resolution of the stipulations in the "Roads" and <br /> "Backfilling and Grading" sections of this document, the proposed operation <br /> will be in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />