2006-11-08_REVISION - M1981044 - Laserfiche WebLink

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interface with the reclamation of the site. Using these acreage limitations in the mining plan (and reclamation cost calculations) should provide the proper controls required to insure complete reclamation of the site. When a limit is reached in any particular category, alterations in the operation must occur to avoid exceeding the limitations or the limitations must be increased (and therefore the bond) to allow for greater amounts of land in that particular category. Disturbance CateQOrv Distributions: Maior Disturbance: Major disturbance is defined as the areas were mining is occurring at a particular point in time, plus the location of topsoil stockpiles. Because the mining area is moderate in size, some ofthe major disturbance is occupied by top soil stockpiles. The area is set at 15 acres for a combined mining area and soil stockpile area. It is understood that when the acreage is reached then a reduction in the actual major disturbance area is best accomplished by converting it directly to a minor disturbance azea by replacement of the topsoil followed by prompt seeding of the land. Moderate Disturbance: Moderate disturbance is defined, in this operation, to include the final grading of pit slopes and the pit bottom, topsoil distribution (not planted), the access road, material processing area, and any material stockpiles. This area is set at 12 acres because topsoil redistribution will be followed almost immediately by planting. Therefore, the acreage includes primarily all activities other than those contained in the major disturbance or land currently under final reclamation. Minor Disturbance: Minor Disturbance, for this operation, includes land that has been reclaimed but has not yet been released from bond. The acreage included in this category assumes a 3 year term after seeding until bond can be released. At the rate of 5.0 acres per year placed under reclamation, the minor disturbance category would need to contain at least 15.0 acres. The figure for minor disturbance will therefore be set at 15 acres. Total Acreaee Disturbed: Assuming some point is reached where all acreages that can be disturbed, under these categories, is disturbed the amount of land would tota142 acres. This is approximately 18 % of the entire area to eventually be mined. Of those 42 acres, 27 acres would be at some stage prior to final revegitation (mining, stockpiling, access, etc.) and 15 acres would be in some stage of revegitation. Minin¢/Reclamation Coordination: The acreages listed in these categories provide the limits on the extent of the operation. The major disturbance category includes the actual mining area and is fairly constant. Therefore, for the mining area, the shift from major to moderate disturbance is essentially automatic. The shift from major disturbance (soil stockpiles) and moderate disturbance to minor disturbance, on the other hand, requires an action by the pennittee to physically alter the land so the transfer occurs. Therefore, when the moderate disturbance category reaches its limitation or the total of mining and soil stockpiles reaches the major disturbance limitation, land in the respective category must be shifted to another category.