2014-10-21_REVISION - M1988044 (5)

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TR-07 RECLAMATION PLAN Roadway Removal Requirements REQUIREMENT 25: In general, roadways will remain after the mining, especially the major access roads that are used by other parties. But those small, local access roads to specific mining areas, unless specifically requested by the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners to remain after the mining and reclamation, should be reclaimed. Discussion: Unfortunately, roadway reclamation can be difficult if not implemented properly. The biggest problem is the severe compaction that occurs on roads where heavy equipment has run back and forth for some period of time. That compaction almost eliminates the opportunity for revegetation and even the potent and versatile noxious weeds rarely invade such sites. Often such roadways and paths remain for decades. In many places, pioneer trails, like the Oregon Trail, show clear evidence of the wagon paths. Sometimes it looks like the wagons traveled the trail within the last couple of years rather than 150 years ago. Just think what a road traversed by haul trucks or loaders will do if a covered wagon trail can last a century and a half. Reclaiming such sites is not difficult if one step is implemented. Deeply ripping the path with a bulldozer is all that is often required. The ripping should be as deep as the ripper teeth will go. The ripping should be done in two or three passes with each pass offset from the last. If the resulting material is still very blocky then harrowing or discing might be needed. If this is followed by topsoiling and seeding, it is unlikely the roadway will be very visible in a few years. Seeding should be done by drilling and use the same mixture used in the reclamation of the pit. But once this is done, no vehicles should ever be allowed to use that road. A sign at the start of the road stating that the road is closed is recommended. If no further access is needed to the reclaimed pit area, the road removal can occur at the same time the pit is reclaimed. However,because many reclamation areas may require erosion control or other management needs that may require vehicular access, the road reclamation should usually wait until the pit reclamation is finished and the vegetation well established. REQUIREMENT 26: Reclamation Management Requirements Primarily Adaptive Management Approach: In managing reclamation sites, two general approaches can be used -Active Management and Adaptive Management. Active Management starts with an assumption that all the problems can be anticipated and addressed in the management plan. This is based on an assumption that the entire system being created can be well understood before it is created and therefore the system can be managed to produce a precise end product. Active Management works well in more"domesticated"reclamation plans, that is, plans that have a precisely defined final configuration. In those cases, the reclamation is more like landscaping. But reclamation plans directed toward creating a more natural system rarely can be managed well using Active Management. Natural systems are extremely complex systems and are constantly changing Coal Creek Sand Resource Amendment 3 (2005)- M-1988-044 Exhibit E Page 18