2004-09-21_REVISION - M1986061 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Please. describe how the woody vegetation that presently exists onsite will be handled and disposed of. Please note that this office will not approve a plan that proposes to bury large volumes of such materials. You propose to use fines in conjunction with topsoil to create a usable growth medium, with the estimated amounts of each presented in this exhibit. This will be acceptable as long as native topsoil is carefully salvaged wherever it is encountered, protected while stockpiled, and can be shown to adequately support revegetation. If native topsoil is wasted, causing a need for a proportionately greater amount of fines in the layer of growth medium to be replaced, and resulting in inadequate revegetation, additional topsoil imported from other sources may be required and/or the reclamation plan revised. Please comment. The drainage channels to be created across the site's filled gulches will be grouted rock riprap on the steeper portions. Please state (for the text in this exhibit) whether geotextile will be used under the rock. Please clarify that the secondary containment to be employed as part of the fuel and fluid storage facilities onsite will be impermeable and not just composed of an earthen berm, and that they will be appropriately sized beyond maximum for tank capacity. The pit slopes aze planned for a final gradient of 2:1. Please state what type of equipment will be used, and how, to shape these slopes and then spread a uniform layer of growth medium on them. Exhibit E -Reclamation Plan (Rule 6.4.51 The seed mixes and methods of seeding appear adequate for the level and sloped azeas. Part of the revegetation plan, however, should be further explained. Please describe whether the mulch will be crimped along the slope or across the slope, and the type of equipment that will be used to spread and crimp the mulch on the 2:1 slopes. The noxious weed conffol measures outlined in this exhibit aze a good start to a weed plan, as long as it is followed. As a point of clarification, however, it should be noted that the exhibit text moves abruptly from discussing noxious weeds to a single mention of "non-noxious" weeds. This office requires that noxious weeds be controlled under a weed control plan, which is intended to ensure that these species aze monitored and, if not completely eliminated, at least reduced and prevented from spreading. Past onsite activities have not included aggressive noxious weed control, and they have spread. Non-noxious weeds, comprised of various annual weeds, exist now and will continue to occur on the site. This office recognizes that these annual weeds will occur early in the reclamation stages, but that they too will spread if timely reclamation is not performed. Though certain "positive" influences may be attributable to the temporary presence of annual weeds (such as shade for grass seedlings, protection from erosion) the goal is for revegetation with desirable, perennial species. The operator must understand that annual weed cover will ultimately become a problem if timely and continuous revegetation activities are not tamed out. Please comment. The blended soil to be used will likely have a texture or fertility that is less than optimal for range or pasture grasses. If revegetation success is reduced, for reasons of excessive drainage or low fertility, the operator may wish to consider amending the soil or adding fertilizer at a later season. A soil test at the time of soil placement may be beneficial. Please comment. The site has been accessible intermittently or seasonally to grazing livestock, and perhaps coincidentally, adequate revegetation has not been attained on any lazge azeas of the site. It will be important in the future, therefore, that livestock be excluded during the revegetation stages on the site, pursuant to Rule 3.1.10(4). Please comment. Exhibit F -Reclamation Plan Map (Rule 6.4.61 The elevation at the wellhead (mentioned above) again fluctuates; during the mining stage it is 6620 feet, and at the reclamation stage it is back up to 6625 feet. Please explain the change.