Laserfiche WebLink
49 <br />as a basis to develop an alternative practice. AML reclaimed an old mine waste <br />dump in 1990. This dump was active in the 1950's and abandoned by CF & I's Allen <br />Mine prior to 1977. It was never included in the New Elk permit. Composition of the <br />pile is believed to be similar to the New Elk DWP. <br />AML completed the reclamation of the waste dump using cover averaging twelve <br />inches of alternative soil material. The reclamation success of this project was <br />evaluated in 2001 using procedures proscribed in the New Elk permit for evaluating <br />revegetation success. This study can be found as Exhibit 36 of the New Elk permit. <br />After almost ten years since completion of the reclamation, the AML area appears to <br />support a healthy stand of perennial grasses and forbs. The site appears to be <br />physically stable with no signs of significant erosion. The area meets the standards <br />for herbaceous production, cool season grass diversity, perennial fortis diversity, and <br />woody stem density. The survey did not meet the standard for percentage cover and <br />species diversity for warm season grasses. <br />The vegetation cover requirement was not met possible for several reasons including <br />soil nutrient deficiencies and grazing. The proposed reclamation plan will include a <br />soil testing and enhancement program and the area will be fenced to restrict domestic <br />grazing activities. The likely explanation for the area not meeting the warm season <br />grass species diversity standard is that warm season grasses were under - represented <br />in the seed mixture used as part of the AML project. The seed mixture was comprised <br />of 13 percent warm season grasses and 70 percent cool season grasses. The seed mix <br />developed as part of the Mine Permit is comprised of 39 percent cool season grasses <br />and 40 percent warm season grasses. As a result, areas reclaimed using this seed <br />mixture are expected to meet the species diversity standard. <br />DWP and Development Waste Disposal Area #2 and #3 - Reclamation Plan <br />1. Side slopes will be graded to no steeper than 2(H): 1(V) slope prior to cover <br />placement. <br />2. For DWDA #2, an average of no less than one foot of cover material including <br />minimum of nine inches of suitable topsoil or topsoil substitute material will be <br />placed over the graded slopes. <br />DWDA #3 will have no less than four feet of cover material placed over the final <br />graded slopes. During construction of DWDA #3, the founding will be over - <br />excavated to four feet, salvaging approximately 30,000 CY of material that will <br />be used at the time of final reclamation. Because DWDA #3 will be situated on <br />previously disturbed ground, it is anticipated, very little topsoil, if any, will be <br />available for salvage. Replacement depths of topsoil and subsoil for DWDA #3 <br />will be based on the amount of topsoil that is salvaged during construction. A <br />topsoil pile has been designed with a capacity of approximately 5,000 CY should <br />topsoil be available for salvage. Whatever depth of topsoil is salvaged during <br />construction will be replaced during final reclamation, with a combined total of <br />no less than four feet to be replaced on the face of DWDA #3. <br />Section 2.05 TR -68 12/10/2014 <br />