Laserfiche WebLink
r <br />r <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Tssot6t <br />10-acre) pond be left for stock watering purposes. Wildlife use of the site at present is <br />low due to the proximity of the quarry to Highway 93. Post mining reclamation will <br />enhance the suitability of the site as a rangeland and wildlife habitat. <br />Reclamation Philosoohv <br />The existing quarry had been mined to an average elevation of 5,940 feet by Great <br />Western Aggregate. The current mine plan as detailed in Exhibit D calls for deepening <br />of the e:dsting quarry to an elevation of 5,860 feet and thence progressively mining <br />southward as process plant needs warrant. Current estimates indicate that mining can <br />proceed within the limits of the existing disturbance for 8 to 10 years. Thereafter, <br />additional area to the south will be mined. <br />First reclamation efforts will be initiated at a time (8 to 10 years from commencement <br />of mining operations) when mining within the limits of the existing quarry has <br />proceeded to the quarry's ultimate depth and sufficient space is available to permit <br />reclamation without interfering with ongoing mining. Once this point has been reached, <br />the overburden berms on the northern and eastern edge of the quarry will be dozed into <br />the quarry to establish final slopes no steeper than 2.5 H to 1 V and to cover the <br />quarry bottom. Overburden currently stockpiled on the western edge of the quarry will <br />remain in place and will be used in reclaiming the southern portion of the quarry which <br />will be mined last. Sufficient overburden material exists in the east and north berms to <br />backfill the slopes and cover Pierre shale materials on the ]over slopes and quarry <br />bottom to a depth of 2 to 4 feet. <br />Since topsoil was not originally segregated when Great Western developed the quarry, <br />revegetation efforts will be somewhat hampered. However, we propose a plan which <br />should largely mitigate this problem. In regard to topsoil availability, the only source <br />of topsoil. is that which overlies presently undisturbed areas south of the existing <br />quarry. Since topsoil will be in short supply we propose to use topsoil only on the side <br />slopes of the quarry where rapid revegetation is most critical in stabilizing the slopes <br />and minimizing erosion. The quarry bottom, which will be less susceptible to erosion, <br />will be covered with 2 to 4 feet of overburden. Indications are that this material can <br />18- <br /> <br />