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MINING PLAN <br />adjustments will be created by mining through the drainage and then regrading the land such that it <br />establishes a new, less hazardous course. <br />In the weed management plan in the Reclamation Plan (Exhibit E-1) reference is made to a <br />large somewhat isolated and generally hidden population of Leafy Spurge that remains as a major <br />source location for this noxious weed. Most of that population exists in Area 2L. As described in the <br />weed control plan, efforts to drastically reduce the size of this population of Leafy Spurge needs to be <br />taken prior to mining. As this population is also upstream from Area 1L, it presents an infestation <br />hazard for the Area 1L reclamation. Therefore, as soon as work begins on Area IL, efforts to reduce <br />the Leafy Spurge population in Area 2L should also begin. Whether this population is controlled by <br />biological means or herbicidal means is not as important as reducing the size and density of the <br />population prior to the initiation of mining in that area. <br />Furthermore, prior to mining Area 2L, consultations must occur with parties planning the <br />reservoir to insure that no mining is done that would make the construction of that reservoir more <br />difficult. Although removal of the sand is clearly beneficial to the dam construction, that removal <br />should be done in a way that heads toward building the reservoir dam. It may also be required by the <br />dam construction that clayey soils and overburden be stockpiled in specific locations if the intent is to <br />use those materials in the construction of the dam. Ultimately, no revegetation may even be required <br />in Area 2L if the reservoir is constructed, but until that is determined, revegetation should be <br />anticipated and remains the primary reclamation plan for this area. <br />Also, at the approximate location of the dam as well as upstream from the dam site, <br />cottonwood groves are present. If it is determined that the dam will be built before the mining reaches <br />these cottonwood groves, these groves maybe removed in the course of mining the area. If it is <br />determined that the dam will not be built then protection of these groves will be required in <br />accordance with the same setback requirements that are applied to the Coal Creek drainage. If, after <br />mining adjacent land under the assumption that the dam will not be built and it is subsequently <br />decided that the dam will be built then the operator may return to this site, remove the trees, and mine <br />whatever sand is present. In short, removal of the cottonwood groves may only occur if the dam is to <br />be constructed otherwise the cottonwood groves will be protected. <br />Future upland and lowland mining, beyond these four areas, could occur in a number of <br />locations. For the lowland mining, sand extraction could occur on the west side of the main <br />north-south access road through the site. Currently there is a gas well head out in the middle of this <br />area and much of this area is very infested with Leafy Spurge. For these two reasons, no mining is <br />proposed for that area initially. The lowland mining east of the main access road presents far fewer <br />problems than the mining west of the road. <br />For the future upland mining, sand extraction will move to the slopes that lead down into the <br />reservoir site. By that time it should be known whether the reservoir will be built or not. As part of the <br />construction of the reservoir, sand excavation from the valley side might be useful and the final <br />reclamation would be the construction of the reservoir. <br />Coal Creek Sand Resource Amendment 3 (2005) - M-1988-044 Exhibit D Page 39 <br />