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• <br />F'lHTRTT F. <br />Reclamation Plan <br />The reclamation plan fer the San Isabel yravel pit is based on consultation <br />;•~ith the Soil Conservation Service, Center Soil Conservation District. The goal <br />of reclamation is to return the site to range land once mining is complz te. At <br />the present time, the per:mir_ area anti surrounding range land has been overgrazed <br />and is in less than op ti miw condition. (See Er:h ibit J - Vegetation Information). <br />Reclamation offers an opportunity to improve the quality of range land on the site. <br />[dater resources, ~.ai ldlife, and air quality in the area will not bz siynificantly <br />affected by mininy and reclamaticn. The plan consists of several steps including <br />removal and storage of topsoil, backsloping of cut banks, grading, replacement of <br />topsoil, and rese=ding ~.ii th native grasses. The stages in the reclamation plan ,dill <br />be scheduled as cutlined in maps and timetables included in Exhibit D - ;lining Plan. <br />The topsoil ;which varies in depth from four (4) to thirteen (13) inches will be <br />removed and stockpiled on approximately one (1) acre in the northeast corner of the <br />permit area (See Exhibit C - f4ap of Affected Lands). Stockpiled topsoil will be <br />packed and seeded with native grasses to minimize erosion and invasion by weeds. <br />The topsoil stockpile area will be fenced to prevent disturbance from mining oper- <br />ations and activities on adjacent lands. <br />Backsloping of cut banks will take place as pit expansion proceeds except in <br />areas where backsloping would interfere with the gravel stockpile area and access <br />road. The preferred slope for all backfilled areas edill be 6:1. In some areas in <br />the existing pit, backslopes will be as steep as 3:1 due to steepness of the cut <br />bank and a limited amount of fill material available. All backsloped areas will be <br />compacted to insure stability. Terraciny or pitting may be used to stabilize steep- <br />er slopes prior to reseeding. <br />Final grading, replacement of topsoil, and reseeding will take place once mining <br />is completed in order to minimize disturbance from ongoing mining operations and in- <br />crease the chances for successful reclamation. The site ~:~i11 be graded to a final <br />topography as approxrmate as possible for grazing and compatible with the surroundinc <br />area. Topsoil ari11 be replaced to an approximate depth of six (6) inches. The top- <br />soil ~ai11 be packed and kept weed free until reseeding is complete. Replacement of <br />topsoil and reseeding will be planned to minimize the possibility of erosion prior <br />to reseeding. <br />P.eseeding will take place from early summer to late fall (July to November) <br />to take advantage of increased soil moisture during the period. Seed will be broad- <br />cast and covered by roller packing or harrowing. Following seeding, a fence ade- <br />quate to exclude livestock will be constructed and maintained for a minimum of five <br />(5) years. A mixture of native grasses as specified by the Soil Conservation Service <br />will be used on the site (including topsoil stockpiles). Species and seeding rates <br />will be as follows: <br />Pure Live Seed <br />Species Variety Rate (lbs/acre) Percent of Mixture <br />Blue Grama Covington or Hachita 3.00 40 <br />Indian ricegrass Paloma 6.00 25 <br />Western cdheatgrass Arriba or Barton 8.00 25 <br />Sand dropseed .LO 10 <br />