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<br />but it will be significant Staged reclamation of the well field as solution mining panels are
<br />retired will minimize the size of the disturbance area at any given time throughout the project
<br />' life.
<br />As individual solution mining wells are retired, the well pads will be stabilized using suitable
<br />' interim-stabilization techniques, as described in The Plan, to prevent erosion until final
<br />reclamation of all or part of that specific mining panel. Roads that will not be Deeded to serve
<br />subsequent development within the mining panel will be similarly stabilized.
<br />' Final reclamation of each mining panel or part of a mining panel can only be accomplished once
<br />mining activities in the panel or part of a panel have been concluded At that point, the solution
<br />mining wells will have been properly abandoned, the solution collector pipes, pipe racks,
<br />' electrical panels, and pumps will be removed to serve other areas, and the well field access
<br />roads can be abandoned as appropriate. Final reclamation would immediately follow the
<br />completion of abandonment and dewmmissioning activities.
<br />' At any time, the disturbed area in the well field will roughly approximate the size of one of the
<br />mining panels. The amount of land expected to be substantially disturbed within a mining
<br />panel conservatively ranges from 125 acres to 209 acres and averages about 172 acres. Actual
<br />' physical disturbance and clearing will likely be less.
<br />2.2.2 Surface Facilities
<br />' American Soda anticipates operating the Yankee Gulch Project indefmitely (Steigers
<br />Corporation, 199g). Therefore, most of the surface facilities outside the mining panels will
<br />function long term, and their reclamation would occur in the distant future. Development and
<br />operation of the plant site facilities (Piceance Site and Parachute Site) will be in accordance with
<br />this document Five buildings will be located at the Yankee Gulch Project Piceance Site in the
<br />initial plant processing area, including the administration, solution processing, pumphouse,
<br />t heat exchanger and general purpose buildings. Also, an electric substation, a generator,
<br />outdoor switch gear, a pipeline feed surge tank, a return water collection tank, a cooling tower
<br />and parking lots will be constructed. The Piceance Site plant will occupy an area about 6.5
<br />' acres in size, with access controlled by security fencing. A 13-acre evaporation pond will be
<br />located nearthe processing plant.
<br />The Parachute Site will support a processing plant area, which will include process buildings, a
<br />storage building, storage tanks, an adminisuative and laboratory building, Product packaging
<br />and loadout facilities, utilities, a rail spur, several ponds and other associated facilities. The
<br />Parachute Site is associated with an existing inactive industrial facility. As a result,
<br />' development of the Parachute Site will result in minimal land disturbance. Minor relocation of
<br />the existing railroad spur may result in 2 to 3 acres of additional land disturbance.
<br />Since these facilities will be operated long-term for the life of the project, final reclamation
<br />t measures are not stipulated in The Plan. These measures will be finalized by American Soda
<br />and the appropriate agencies as the project nears completion. However, it is anticipated that
<br />general closure and reclamation concepts will be implemented Facilities will be
<br />' decommissioned in preparation for removal. Decommissioning will involve disassembly and
<br />removal from the site of all salvageable equipment, instrumentation, parts, and supplies. All
<br />structures and facilities will be salvaged, if feasible, or demolished. Any non-salvageable
<br />' structures, facilities, slab footings and foundations will be demolished and buried on-site.
<br />Areas disturbed from decommissioning will be regraded, covered with topsoil, and
<br />revegetated.
<br />' American Soda, LLP. Z-2
<br /> Soil Conservadm. FJOSIOn and Sedlmenl
<br /> Control, Ralavutron, and Revegeuuon flan
<br />' October 28, 1948
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