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• • _ <br />Pre-production site preparaliott activities arc dc~i_atcd primarily ur sct:urc tltc :IIC <br />lxiwtdari[-s. prtn~idc access for mining. stora,~ and reran,. ai nl' gra~~ci. and to <br />implement drainr~c impmvements. <br />Thr production phase of the reduced mine size consists of the aetieitics necessary to <br />rcmrn•c ,-ravel, prepare and stockpile the mined m:ucriul, and then rcmo~•c the <br />ntutrriul Irom the site. <br />_ Thc size of the expanded quarry and total prtxluction would he scaled hack to <br />approximately SA percent of the mining an:a under AhCrllaUVC B. The reduced sixc <br />mining opeeuion would occupy a local of 16 acres. I1 acres on National Forcs[ <br />System Irnd and 4 acres on priva[r land h would rcmavc appmxintately S(10.000 <br />tons of gntvel from the federal land and reclaim the si[c within a period of 5 to 7 <br />years. The mine production rate, based upon estimated gravel demands. would be <br />approximately the same as under the proposed action (Altcrnativc B1 averaging about <br />100.000 tons per year. The mine expansion arcs would cover only the nonhcrn pan <br />(58~h) of the area impacted by the previous quarry. The quarry would operate <br />between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday throu;l[ Friday. It is anticipated <br />that un averrgc of two full-time employees would be required ro operate the xite, with <br />one or two additional employees occasionally required for peak production periods <br />associated with specia! projects. <br />The reclamation phase of the reduced mine size would follow tltc production phase <br />as mining progresses from north to south. Under this altcmativc. only the northern <br />pan of the previously impacted area would be reclaimed. Finrl reclamation will be <br />completed Icss than one year after mining has been completed. <br />The reclamation process would be similar [o that described for Alternative B. <br />However, the nonhem part of the gravel pit is char;utcrizcd by less steep slopes and <br />fewer rock outcrops than the southern pan. Thus, lws steep slopes and fewer rock <br />outcrops are expectad after the completion of the reclamation proxess. Under <br />Alternative C. the areas coverod with topsotl would be seeded following surface <br />preparation with a spring tooth harrow. 1arly-mid seral stage plants associated to the <br />climax Forest in the project area would be identified. Those native plants would <br />evolve in natural progttssion to maintain the integrity of plant :usocia[ion. [n order <br />to identify the climax Eorest and nazive plants in the project area, field work would be <br />conducted prior to the production phase. For native species, utilization of sterile non- <br />native plants such as sterile wheaz or oats may constitute an appropriaze Best <br />Management Practice (HMP). <br />Similarly to Alternative B, slow reieasin; organic fertilizer, such as "Biosol", will be <br />applied to topsoil after placement. However, under Alternative C the recommended <br />rates for nitrogen and phosphate will be az follows: 800 to 1,600 Ibs per acre during <br />Primary Fertilization; and 600 to 1,000 Ibs per acre during Stxondary Fettilizazion. <br />The reclamation of the gravel pit will be done in accordance with applicable USI?A- <br />NRCS specifications, standards and guidelines- National Foest standards specific to <br />Mrd~a~ tternwce ron.dws. roar` walnm swm :oo. ea,tac, eo ea~oa <br />