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NH1 <br />This area is currently included in two Coal Mine Permits held by Western Fuels Colorado <br />(WFC); C- 1981 -008 and C- 2010 -089. WFC is currently working with the Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) to remove this area from Permit C- 1981 -008. All <br />NH1 activities are covered under the Annual Reclamation Report for Permit C- 2010 -089, <br />Western Fuels Colorado -LLC, New Horizon North Mine (NHN). Exhibit 2012 -2 depicts the <br />NH1 Permit areas. <br />NH2 <br />2012 ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT <br />New Activity & Disturbance <br />During 2012, approximately 22.0 acres of new disturbance were associated with the mine <br />progression at the New Horizon 2 Mine. New disturbance is considered to be in front of <br />the current pit such as top soil stripping. This activity is noted in Exhibit 2012 -3. Exhibit <br />2012 -12 depicts 174.7 acres in the active mining area. Active disturbance generally <br />consists of the current pit, backfilled areas, areas that are not to final grade and seeded to <br />the approved long term seed mix. <br />Backfillinci and Grading <br />During 2012, 36.6 acres (Exhibit 2012 -7) were final graded at the New Horizon 2 Mine. <br />Backfill grading is accomplished by backfilling the empty pit in the same sequence it is <br />removed with a truck - shovel fleet and then final grading is accomplished with dozers <br />and /or a motor grader. <br />Soil and Spoil Scarification <br />The following soil and spoil scarification techniques were used while grading the <br />reclamation area. Prior to growth media soil replacement, the final graded spoil was <br />scarified to a depth of approximately 2 ft using ripper shank attached behind a dozer. This <br />scarifying operation effectively reduces compaction, runoff, improves infiltration, and <br />rooting depths. <br />Soil and Spoil Monitoring Data <br />New Horizon Mine is required by Permit C -81 -008 to monitor replaced soil and final graded <br />spoil and submit the information to the Division. Monitoring programs include verifying soil <br />replacement thickness and determining final graded spoil quality. Exhibit 2012 -6 depicts <br />topsoil thickness and sample locations. Exhibit 2012 -7 depicts backfill spoil sample <br />locations and shows backfill placement limits. Attachment 2012 -A, contains required soil <br />samples taken by WFC personnel on non - Morgan soils and is attached with analytical <br />results. <br />WFC requested a Technical Revision 61 (TR61) from the Division of Reclamation Mining <br />and Safety (DRMS) under the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) advisement to investigate <br />the alleged prime farmland on the Morgan section of the Permit. Several parties were <br />involved in the field investigation including but not limited to; KEY -AG, WFC, OSM, DRMS, <br />Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), & the Morgan Family. In December <br />2011, several test pits were excavated with a trackhoe and several cores samples were <br />F: \Eng \DATA \Word \Ann Reclaim Report \2012 \2012 RECRPT.doc <br />1 <br />