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application) . Two rock underdrains have been constructed beneath <br /> the refuse pile to properly dewater the refuse pile and contribute <br /> to slope stability. <br /> Both coarse and fine materials are disposed of in the refuse pile. <br /> Fine materials are initially dewatered to facilitate their <br /> consolidation after final deposition and compaction. The pile has <br /> been approved to be at the height of 75 feet while retaining a <br /> factor of safety greater than 1 . 5 . The refuse pile reclamation <br /> will be completed by covering the remaining spoil area with four <br /> feet of noncombustible cover, including topsoil, seeding and <br /> mulching. The Southfield Mine began contemporaneous reclamation of <br /> the pile in 1983 when the eastern side of the pile was topsoiled <br /> and revegetated. The Operator has continued contemporaneous <br /> reclamation of the refuse pile. The latest portion of the pile to <br /> be covered and seeded (in late 2000 and early 2001) was a strip <br /> approximately 1 . 1 acres in size . Two-foot lifts of the refuse, <br /> alternating coarse and fine materials, are compacted until the <br /> permitted height of 75 feet is reached. <br /> Reclamation of the Loadout <br /> Reclamation of the loadout began with backfilling and regrading the <br /> area between July and November 1996 . A complete application for <br /> Phase I Bond Release was received by the Division on 21 August 1997 <br /> and approved on 4 November 1997 . The loadout was reseeded in 1997 <br /> and, after what the Operator deemed inadequate vegetation, again in <br /> 1999 . Upon submittal and approval of a Phase II Bond Release for <br /> the loadout (no sooner than 2004) , the Operator will remove all of <br /> the surface water control structures and grade these areas to <br /> approximate original contour. Topsoil will be spread on these <br /> areas followed by seeding and mulching. <br /> Topsoil <br /> Topsoil stripping depths and recoveries have varied at the mine <br /> site and loadout. This is due to the previous pre-law mining <br /> disturbances and subsequent loss of topsoil, coupled with the <br /> presence of a rocky sub-strata "B" horizon, consisting primarily of <br /> cobbly, unconsolidated colluvial/alluvial outwash materials . <br /> Topsoil recovery has been from 0-1 foot as a result in some <br /> locations . In order to facilitate successful revegetation, EFCI <br /> has agreed to prepare the disturbed areas for seeding by ripping <br /> the regraded facilities area to a depth of 2 to 3 feet prior to <br /> topsoil replacement. Sufficient topsoil will be retained for final <br /> reclamation of the ponds on the mine site and loadout . <br /> Southfield Mine Permit Renewal 03 <br /> 23 <br />