2023-03-14_REVISION - M1981287 (19)

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Reclamation of the site will be conducted in phases.As different strata are removed from the mine area, distance from the site boundary where deeper mining is occurring,will be increased to maintain a 3:1 final grade as mentioned above in the original 110c permit application. As mining reaches a depth of 30 feet below grade, reclamation of the previously mined area will commence. It is anticipated that acquisition of the specified depth will be reached by 2027 in the original permit area. If the target depth is reached prior to the estimated date of 2027, reclamation will begin at that time. Specifics to the plan are as follows: a.) As stated above in the original 110c application,very little to no topsoil exists within the permit boundaries.The only exception is the south end of the original permit. As mining occurs within that area,topsoil will be stockpiled for later use. The affected area, not included in the original 110c application, is and continues to be, farmland. Reclamation plan measures for these areas are included below. b.) Slope variances occur naturally along the creek bank of the permit boundary.These occurrences are due to the topography of adjacent lands and hundreds of years of flooding and related weather events.These areas occur only along the permit boundaries. In these areas, slope is greater than 3:1.There is little to no benefit in grading these areas to a 3:1 slope. However, most other areas of the excavation will not have slopes greater than 3:1. c.) The following steps will be taken to establish vegetation on all affected areas once mining is completed: ➢ As stated above in the original 110c application,the mineable area of the subject property does not lend itself to revegetation due to the lack of topsoil and moisture holding capacity of the underlying material.The exception, as specified above, is the south area of the original permit where an estimated layer of 3" of topsoil exists. Grading and seeding rate expressed within the original 110c permit are still pertinent to the mineable area of the subject property. The affected area not included in the original 110c permit are primarily classified as Haverson loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. In the past,the affected areas(not to be mined), have been and continue to be used as dryland farm ground.The affected area was seeded for the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 20+years ago.The primary vegetation, as described in Exhibit C,Subsection E of this document, are Blue Grama, Intermediate Wheatgrass and Little Bluestem.Today this land is no longer enrolled in the CRP program. The land is currently being maintained as rangeland. However,future agriculture economics may dictate the land being used for crop production. No mining has or will occur in these areas.