2004-03-08_REVISION - M1998052 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The method(s) of mining to be employed will consist of essentially the same methods presently employed -heavy equipment will be used to simply pick up the material and move it to the processing area. Processed material will be hauled off-site as it is sold. Ex losives No explosives will be used in conjunction with the mining or reclamation. Nature. Depth and Thickness of the Deposit The dredge tailing piles very in height from 10 to 20 feet (or more) above the water table throughout the permit area. There is no topsoil or overburden in the Affected Land. The alluvial gravels extend to bedrock -the nature of the bedrock is unknown and irrelevant to this permit application. The first portion of the existing access road from Tiger Road to the 110 Permit Area is a driveway providing access to two log cabins located south of the Affected Land. Access for this operation will, for the first few years, be the same as at present. It will follow the driveway to the cabins for a short distance, then become part of the requested Affected Land as shown on Exhibit C/F. As the mining progresses up the valley, an additional access will be developed as shown on Exhibit C/F. The location and extent of this future access (see Exhibit C!F) is the only land in this permit application wherein presently undisturbed land will be disturbed for mining. A culvert will be placed in this arm of the river; the Army Corps of Engineers will be consulted; and the approximate total extent of disturbance will be approximately 0.02 acres (1,000-sq. ft.). Water Diversions and Impoundments There will be no water diversions or impoundments. The Swan River flows through and around the existing dredge tailing, and this operation will not modify or affect that flow. Size of Area to be Worked -Timetable -Life of the Mine The size of the area to be worked at one time is impossible to predict accurately because it will be almost totally dependent upon the demand for the material. However, as we are required to provide an estimated Timetable, we can say that it is roughly estimated that 3 to 5 acres of tailing will be removed each year for the life of the mine. With only 30+ acres of tailing remaining for removal, the I'rfe of the mine is estimated to be 6 to 10 years. Stages of mining have not been shown on Exhibit C/F because reclamation will be essentially complete as soon as mining is finished (see Exhibit E).