2024-06-25_PERMIT FILE - M2024032 (2)

Home Browse Search

approximately four to eight feet. The soil overburden material likely developed from alluvial and eolian deposits of clay, silts, and sands. Over time, erosive forces of wind and water have influenced the soils on the site. The aggregate deposits and loamy soil overburden material are underlain by a variable pattern of shale and sandstone parent materials. Mine Phasing Connell Resources anticipates mining and reclaiming the proposed 5J Pit site in approximately 20 years. However, the rate of mining and overall life of the mine is dependent on several factors including product demand. Test pits have verified that commercial deposits of sand and gravel exist up to about 25 feet below the surface of the ground. In addition to the commercial sand and gravel materials, clay, silt, and other non-marketable materials excavated from the proposed permit area will be used on-site for reclamation as needed. It is anticipated that the permit area will include a material processing facility, asphalt plant, and asphalt/concrete recycling operations. The permit area where these operations are to be located will be mined early in the operation so the facilities can be set up within the mine pit, below the adjacent ground surface elevation. The remainder of the mining plan includes mining in just one phase, starting near the northern permit boundary and mining south through the permit area (see Exhibit C-5,Pre-Mining/Mining Plan Map). Even though the proposed permit area will be mined in only one phase, integration of mining and reclamation is still applicable. In general, as the pit reaches its maximum depth and mining side slopes are completed, the side slopes will be backfilled and reclaimed. Rough contouring of the pit floor will take place during mining, while fine contouring and establishing final drainage patterns will be one of the last steps in the reclamation process. Existing drainage patterns will be maintained as much as possible. Contour blending will be used to avoid steep transitions and create a topography that produces a smooth, relatively low velocity flow from the mined area to adjacent drainage systems. Overland flow patterns will be incorporated into this transition so as to connect the pit floor with existing shallow drainage swales. Mining Methods Mining methods include activities typical of sand and gravel mining techniques statewide. Groundwater is not expected to be encountered during mining and the deposit will be dry mined. Mining will proceed by first stripping and stockpiling topsoils and overburden. The exposed gravel will then be removed in lifts and transported for on-site or off-site processing and use. Since the material is unconsolidated deposits, no blasting is required. Earth Moving Areas to be mined are prepared by removal of topsoil and overburden. Each preparation area may be as much as 100 feet ahead of the active mining face. Usually, only enough area is stripped and prepared to provide the estimated needs for the next 10 to 14 months of mining. Where it is found, surface topsoil material will be stripped separate from the underlying, deeper subsoil or overburden material. This topsoil layer contains most of the soils organic matter and 5J Pit DRMS 112 Permit Application Page 5