You can have as many as you want. The ultimate goal of reclamation is to reestablish a natural landscape on mined land. The land is contoured and then seeded with a carefully researched mixture of grasses and plants indigenous to northern regions. Since 1971, the mine has reclaimed over 5,500 acres and planted about 240,000 seedlings. Over a period of years, native vegetation invades the area, returning the mined land to its natural appearance.
Reclamation begins before any mining is done.
The information needed to design a successful reclamation plan is gathered from a selected study area during the exploration phase before the area is disturbed. An inventory is taken of the variety and abundance of natural vegetation found in the area and the kinds of conditions necessary for its growth. Each spring, the area that has been mined during the past year is re-graded, seeded and fertilized. A contractor uses a fixed wing aircraft to apply the fertilizer and seed. Aerial seeding is performed in a few days during the prime growing months of May and June, early enough to take advantage of the short summer season.