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~- <br />Resolution: American Soda has provided a surface and ground water moni[oring plan for <br />chazacteriza[ion of pre-existing conditions and has agreed that solution mining fluids will not be <br />injected under the terms of the reclamation permit until the characterization plan is comple[ed. <br />The plan specifies a minimum of 13 months of sample collection. <br />DNIG Issue #3: Provide a subsurface subsidence rrionitorins plan. <br />Resolution: American Soda will moni[or the solution mining wells for subsurface subsidence <br />using time domain reflectometry and by running natural gamma logs. American Soda wiil <br />evaluate technologies to characterize the shape of solution mining cavities prior to initiating <br />commercial operations. American Soda will provide a report on this evaluation and has <br />committed to testing any promising technologies identified through the evaluation. American <br />Soda has committed to take specific mitigating steps in the event that subsurface subsidence is <br />detected to a significant degree in either the saline or Mahogany zones, with the ultimate <br />contingency measure being discontinued solution mining in a well where potentially damaging <br />subsidence is detected, as specified in the application. In addition, surface subsidence will be <br />monitored through surveys of monuments established inside and outside the potential zone of <br />influence. <br />DMG Issue #4: DMG raised a number of issues related to the mitigation of potential impacts of <br />the solution mining operation on wildlife. <br />Resolution: <br />a. American Soda will erect aneight-foot fence azound the Piceance Plant Site and evaporation <br />ponds, and will maintain the eight-foot fence azound the test mine cooling ponds. <br />b. American Soda will net the evaporation ponds and has netted the cooling ponds. <br />c. American Soda has developed a Wildlife Mitigation Plan in consultation with the Division of <br />Wildlife (DOW) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This plan has been <br />incorporated into the reclamation permit application. The plan specifies that revegetation <br />following cessation of mining activities in a portion or all of each mining panel will focus on <br />species that will be beneficial to wintering deer. DMG is requiring that adequate bond be <br />posted to assure that the terms of the Wildlife Mitigation Plan can be achieved in the event of <br />a bond forfeiture. Specifically, sufficient bond will be required to seed the disturbed azea and <br />to plant shrub tublings at 1500 stems per acre on ZO percent of the disturbed area. In <br />addition, the bond includes funds to plant approximately 1200 pinyons, junipers, and <br />ponderosa pines. <br />d. For protection of raptors. American Soda has committed to avoiding disturbance, as much as <br />possible, to quality nesting habitat. Nest surveys will be conducted in advance of operations, <br />and no surface occupancy zones will be established azound ac[ive nests. <br />Issues Raised in Public Comments on the Application <br />[n accordance with Rule 1.4.x(6), the following listing is provided of the issues raised in public <br />or other agency comments on the reclamation permi[ application for the Yankee Gulch Minerals <br />