2020-02-07_PERMIT FILE - M2020014

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Carter Mine—Limited Impact 110(2) Permit Application Exhibit B—Site Description (Rule 6.3.2) CRG Mining is applying to recommence mining activity on small parcels of land that have been previously and intermittently disturbed by mining for over a century. The proposed reclamation plan of a post-mining land use of forestry is consistent with the area's undisturbed surrounding forest land. Vegetation The vegetation present on the sites and the surrounding area is typical of coniferous forests at this elevational range in this region. Drawing from USFS and NRCS information (which includes existing and potential species composition), and onsite observations,the sites can be described as containing primarily mature lodgepole pine, with minor amounts of Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce as other mature overstory species. Understory grass and grass-like species include nodding brome,wildrye, elk sedge, slender wheatgrass, and bunch bluegrass. Forbs and shrubs include kinnikinic, shrubby cinquefoil, buffaloberry, Oregon grape, wild strawberry, and common juniper. Soils The soils information for the mining sites was obtained from the NRCS. All sites are within the delineated soil type of the Sanford Series, specifically the Sanford Fine Sandy Loam (described below). The soil type includes or lies adjacent to minor areas of Stony Colluvial Land and Rock Outcrop,which occur on parts of the proposed mine site areas. According to NRCS,this soil is well suited to timber production and watershed supply, due to shallow depth to regolith (of limited permeability), moderate texture, and annual precipitation. Limitations include shallow bedrock and existing outcrops, possibility of erosion potential due to high slope gradients, low organic matter content in the soil,short growing season for seedling establishment. Regarding reclamation, disturbed areas can be prone to erosion,though surface drainage during mining or reclamation does not present any limiting issues. Most of the proposed mining sites have been previously disturbed by mining, and have received little reclamation. This has left very little, if any,topsoil available for reclamation in many of the proposed areas. The operator will reclaim the mining disturbances according to the reclamation plan and the regulations of the state. Soil Description: Sanford Series The Sanford series consists of well-drained, moderately steep to very steep soils that formed in material weathered from gneiss or schist under forest vegetation of lodgepole pine with a sparse understory of kinnikinic. The mean annual precipitation is 20 inches;the average annual snowfall is 50 inches;and the mean annual temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Permeability is moderate and available water capacity is low. Rooting depth is approximately 20 to 40 inches. Under a thin litter layer,the surface soil layer is typically a brown fine sandy loam 2 inches thick. The subsurface layer is a 12-inch thick layer of pale brown and yellowish brown fine sandy loam, with thin layers of loam to clay. Gneiss occurs at a depth of about 30 inches.