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Pikeview Quarry -Decision Notice and FONSI 08/30/01 Paee 5 Under the proposed action, the reclamation on National Forest System lands would be implemented concurrently with production. The reclamation phase of the proposed action would follow the production phase as mining progresses from west to east. Final reclatation would be completed one to two years after mining has been completed. Both base and enhanced reclamation on private land would be implemented under this alternative. The reclamation of public lands will be done in accordance with applicable USDA- NRCS specifications, standards and guidelines. USDA Forest Service standards specific to the use of plant material and seeded species from local native plants will also apply to the reclamation activities. Detailed descriptions of the different phases of the proposed action are included in the EA. • Alternative C includes the current mining and reclamation operations and enhanced reclamation. Under this alternative current mining and reclamation activities would continue for 5 to 8 years, depending upon the quantity of materials to be extracted and the duratiop of the reclamation work. This alternative would involve the same limestone production as under Alternative A, and enhanced reclamation would occur in addition to the base reclamation. This alternative would not allow for the reclamation of steep slopes along the west boundary of the quarry. Instead, backfilling materials and topsoil would be accumulated against existing steep slopes to provide relative stabilization. Thus, no federal lands would be affected. The estimaled remaining 6 million tons of limestone would be sold throughout the next 5 to 8 years depending on market demand for this material. No additional limestone would be produced because of safety issues related to the steep limestone slopes on the west part of the quarry. Comparison of Alternatives The criteria selected by the Forest Service for evaluation of alternatives were based primarily upon environmental and feasibility factors. In particular, alternatives with reduced environmental impacts aad with reclamation potential were favored. Other considerations included the potential for mitigating the visual impacts of the previously mined area and the measurable long term benefits. • Alternative A -Under this alternative, the nuisance factors associated with the current quarry operations would continue for 5 to 8 years and base reclamation would ' be applied to the private lands except in the steep western walls of the quarry. No National Forest System lands would be affected. However, without the layback soil losses due to slope wasting, wind and water erosion processes would continue to occur due to previous mining and to the lack of reclamation works in the site. The scar in those areas of the quarry immediate east of the western boundary would remain a visual eyesore