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~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ i ~-z /~~ ~ ~ <br />999 <br />S/~; "EXHIBIT U" (RULE 6.5) <br />GEOTECHNICAL STABILITY EXHIBIT <br />U.1 Potential Geological Hazards <br />The Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project (Yankee Gulch Project) is located in an area <br />that has very few geologic hazards. Probably the most likely geologic hazard would be <br />the potential for unstable slopes. Other less serious geologic hazards that may be <br />associated with the project area are hydrocompactive soils, swelling soils, and natural <br />subsidence. With the exception of potentially unstable slopes in a few areas along the <br />pipeline corridor, these geologic hazards are not expected to affect the project, nor will <br />the project exacerbate these hazards. <br />There are four locations along the pipeline corridor where natural slope stability may be <br />of concern. These four areas are: Davis Point; the northern end of Barnes Ridge; <br />immediately south of the second Piceance Creek crossing; and at the upper end of <br />Hatch Gulch. The Davis Point section of the pipeline corridor is extremely steep and is <br />the only area with significant construction constraints related to slope stability. Proper <br />engineering practices will be implemented in the construction of the Davis Point section <br />of the pipeline to ensure slope stability. Mulching or erosion control fabrics may be <br />used in the reclamation of each of these four locations to prevent erosion and to ensure <br />successful revegetation of these more difficult areas. <br />U.2 Stability <br />U.2.1 Slope Stability <br />The construction of structures in areas with natural surface slopes (such as the pipeline) <br />is described above. Other components of the Yankee Gulch Project will involve the <br />construction of structures with side slopes. These components will include ponds, drill <br />pads, access roads, pipelines, and soil stockpiles. <br />The ponds and major access roads will be in place throughout the 30-year life of the <br />project and will be reclaimed at the end of the project. Thus, maintaining slope stability <br />for these components will be a long-term process that will include ongoing analyses <br />and a periodic maintenance program. Drill pads and well access roads will each be in <br />place for a few years and will be sequentially reclaimed throughout the project. <br />Therefore, maintaining slope stability for these temporary structures, although <br />important, will not be a long-term process. All of these components will ultimately be <br />reclaimed to approximate the original topography. The slope configurations for each of <br />these components are described below. <br />U-1 <br />