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is a loamy, wind-mixed veneer layer of soil overburden material varying in depth from less than <br /> one inch to over four feet. The soil overburden material likely developed from alluvial and <br /> eolian deposits of clay, silts, and sands. Over time, erosive forces of wind and water have <br /> influenced the soils on the site. Mobile soil particles, such as silt and clay, have eroded from <br /> higher topographic positions and have been re-deposited in lower areas. Therefore, swale areas <br /> may have finer textured soils than ridgetops. The aggregate deposits and loamy soil overburden <br /> material are underlain by a variable pattern of shale and sandstone parent materials. <br /> Mine Phasing <br /> Connell Resources anticipates mining and reclaiming the proposed Carr Pit East site in <br /> approximately 10 years. However, the rate of mining and overall life of the mine is dependent <br /> on several factors including product demand. Test pits have verified that commercial deposits of <br /> sand and gravel exist up to about 12 feet below the surface of the ground. In addition to the <br /> commercial sand and gravel materials, clay, silt, and other non-marketable materials excavated <br /> from the proposed permit area will be used on-site for reclamation. <br /> The mining plan currently includes mining in two phases; the first phase north of Lone Tree <br /> Creek and the second phase south of the creek (see Exhibit C-5, Pre-Mining/Mining Plan Map). <br /> Phase I (greater than or equal to about 102.7 acres) will generally be mined from the northwest to <br /> the southeast. When Phase I is complete, Phase II (greater than or equal to about 23.2 acres), the <br /> area south of Lone Tree Creek, will be mined from north to south. All necessary permits will be <br /> obtained and any special construction techniques will be used to reduce impacts to the ephemeral <br /> drainage. Mining will not occur within the Lone Tree Creek channel. <br /> Even though the proposed permit area will be mined in only two phases, integration of mining <br /> and reclamation is still applicable. In general, as the pit reaches its maximum depth and edges <br /> are completed, they will be backfilled and reclaimed. In areas where the final pit depth has been <br /> achieved and operations are no longer present, backfilling and reclamation of pit walls will <br /> extend onto the floor. <br /> Rough contouring of the pit floor with the Lone Tree Creek drainage will take place during <br /> mining while fine contouring and establishing final drainage patterns will be one of the last steps <br /> in the reclamation process. The contour blending will avoid steep transitions and create a <br /> topography that produces a smooth, relatively low velocity flow from the mined area to the <br /> adjacent creek drainage system. Overland flow patterns will be incorporated into this transition <br /> so as to connect the pit floor with existing shallow drainage swales. <br /> Mining Methods <br /> Groundwater is not expected to be encountered during mining and the deposit will be dry mined. <br /> Mining will proceed by first stripping and stockpiling topsoils and overburden. The exposed <br /> gravel will then be removed in lifts and transported off-site for processing. Since the material is <br /> unconsolidated deposits, no blasting is required. <br /> The Lone Tree Creek drainage does not have an associated regulatory floodplain within the <br /> proposed permit area. Because of the incised nature of the creek, wetland communities appear to <br /> Carr Pit East <br /> DBMS 112 Permit Application Page 6 <br />