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Delta County Whiting Pit <br />DMG 112 App]ication <br />Exhibit E- Reclamation Plan <br />The site will be mined in two phases. Reclamafion on Phase 1 will begin as mining in Phase 2 begins. <br />Topsoil and overburden from Phase 2 will be used to reclaim Phase 1. Topsoil and overburden <br />stockpiled from Phase 1 will remain stockpiled until it can be used in the reclamation of Phase 2 <br />The site slopes generally northeast to southwest with slight slope from the center of the mesa to the <br />steeper side slopes. The topography of the reclaimed site will be very similaz to the pre-mining <br />topography, but with the elevation of the mesa being lowered about ten feet. There is very little existing <br />vegetation on the site due to the desert climate and the fact that most of the site had been previously <br />leveled and graded for the Star Nelson airport. <br />a) The site is currently classified as undeveloped Loamy Salt Desert with very little vegetation at <br />the edge of a mesa. The reclamation chosen is to return the property to the desert rangeland that <br />is its current condition. Topsoil and overburden will be removed, the gravel layer will be mined <br />and removed from the property and then the topsoil and overburden will be replaced and graded <br />to mirror the current topography. Phase 1 is about 14 acres. Phase 2 is about 50 acres, and the <br />borrow areas aze about 5 and 8 acres. The topsoil and overburden stockpile area for Phase 1 <br />adds about 4 acres for a total disturbed area of about 78 acres over the life of the mine. The <br />operator will re-vegetate the site to a desert rangeland condition similar the pre-mining condition. <br />b) The post mining land use of desert rangeland matches the existing land use and that of much of <br />the surrounding properties. Approval by the Boazd of Delta County Commissioners for Specific <br />Development Permit No. SD07-002 constitutes conformance to local land use plan. <br />c) Description for meeting the requirements of Section 3.1. <br />3.1.1 The post mining land use was determined according to the wishes of the owners and <br />consultations with the Delta County Planning Commission and the Board of County <br />Commissioners. <br />3.1.2 We are not reclaiming substituted land. <br />3.1.3 Reclamation will be completed in a timely manner with Phase 1 being reclaimed as <br />mining progresses into Phase 2. Final reclamation will be completed within five yeazs of <br />completion of mining. <br />3.1.4 No public use of the land will be permitted. <br />3.1.5 Grading will create stable 3:1 slopes where the surface elevation has been lowered <br />relative to adjacent mesa top lands. Where the mesa elevation is lowered next to adjacent <br />draws and low lands, grading will leave a topography very similaz to the pre-mining <br />topography. <br />Backfilling will be done with materials from the site and compacted by the equipment <br />used to do the backfilling. <br />All grading on site will occur on neazly flat slopes except the high-walls, which will be <br />performed at times when erosion due to weather conditions will be minimized. No high- <br />walls steeper than 3:1 will remain a$er reclamation. <br />Backfilling and grading will be performed as soon as practical after mining. Reclamation <br />of Phase 1 will begin when mining operations move into Phase 2. Reclamation in Phase <br />2 will occur when mining has progressed to a point where ongoing mining activity will <br />not disturb reclaimed areas. <br />There will be no acid-forming or toxic materials mined on this site. Any refuse will be <br />properly disposed of. <br />There will be no drill or auger holes or shafts on this site. <br />