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<br />EXHIBIT "D" <br />MINING PLAN <br />This is a major deposit of red burning clays for the applicant, with a projected 75-year life. Topsoil <br />is thin to non-existent ranging from 0" to 6", and is referred to by SCS as "the surface layer" as <br />opposed to topsoil. Overburden or the substratum varies from 9" to 42" in depth. There are 4 <br />separate clay deposits included in this permit area, with depths ranging from 6' to 40'. It is possible <br />that the applicant may also market some of the caprock at some time in the future. <br />Notice is hereby given that this pit may be operated less than 6 months per year, if business demand <br />so dictates. The applicant requests that this not be considered as temporary cessation. CRS 34.32.5- <br />112(b)(VIII) states: "A timetable estimating the periods required for various stages of the mining <br />operation. The operator shall not be required to meet the timetable, nor shall the timetable be subject <br />to independent review by the Board or Office." <br />(a) Mining Methods <br />There will be 4 separate phases in this long-term mining operation. The State lease land on the south <br />and a portion of the Patton lease on the north will be opened at the same time to start this operation.. <br />After the State land is mined out, mining will then proceed north into the BLM property. Mining will <br />then proceed north into the BLM property. Mining will start on the west of the Patton leased area and <br />move east until material is exhausted. Extraction will normally start at the lowest contour level of <br />the ore body in each of the phases and proceed into the deposit. <br />Stripping and mining will be performed primarily by front-end loaders and dozers. There may be <br />occasional blasting necessary to loosen the caprock in some area. This operation will be operated on <br />a floating bond with the affected area in each phase to be kept at a minimum consistent with <br />operational efficiency. Topsoil - if an}' -and the limited overburden will be stockpiled on the pit <br />perimeters separately for replacement in reclamation as soon as possible. <br />The gradual forward movement and the floating bond approach helps keep the distance to move <br />topsoil - if any -and overburden to a minimum, and in effect, reclamation is made part of the ongoing <br />extraction operation rather than being a separate cost item. Stockpiling and material re-handling is <br />eliminated except for the start of the operation as described above. <br />Mined clay and possibly caprock will be stockpiled on site for later loading and hauling off site the <br />applicant's brick plant in Pueblo or otherjob sites in the area. <br />