Laserfiche WebLink
-46- <br />Tests Appendix, Volume 9) indicates that this material is suitable as a plant <br />growth medium. This is also true of the storage and loadout facilities where <br />no topsoil was salvaged during construction. Analysis of adjacent material <br />indicates good suitability as a plant growth medium. For all future <br />disturbance proposed at the mine, topsoil will be salvaged in accordance with <br />regulatory requirements. One new disturbance proposed at the mine which will <br />require topsoil salvage is the waste disposal area, where topsoil salvage <br />depths will be based upon analysis of the soil material to determine optimal <br />salvage depth. Topsoil will then be removed with scrapers, front-end loaders, <br />or dozers and then stockpiled. The stockpiled topsoil will be protected from <br />wind and water erosion by a quick growing vegetative cover as required by the <br />regulation. CWI has submitted and the Division approved a topsoil handling <br />plan for the waste rock disposal pile. At the west portal proposed <br />disturbance a total of 12 acres will be disturbed, approximately 10.5 acres of <br />Delson Loam west of east Roatcap Creek and 1.5 acres of Saraton Stoney Loam on <br />the east side of the creek: The applicant has proposed not to salvage Saraton <br />Soils due to the high rock content and steep slopes, but would replace the <br />non-salvaged soil with excellent qualitiy Delson Soil which is available in <br />quantities exceeding reclamation needs. <br />Specifically, the applicant will salavage Delson A horizon material and <br />portions of the B and C horizon to a total depth of 32 inches. This would <br />allow for an average replacement depth of 24 = over the entire disturbed area <br />following completion of backfilling and grading. Available information <br />indicates that the two foot average replaced soil depth would support a <br />vegetative community consistent with post-mine land use objectives. <br />Topsoil will be stored during operations in two locations; the outslopes of <br />the portal bench and a topsoil stockpile to the north of the portal area. <br />Topsoil on he outslope would be spread to a depth of approximately 4 feet, <br />seeded and stabilized with erosion control blanket. The topsoil stockpile <br />would be less than 8 feet in height so as to maintain the viability of the <br />soil and would be protected from erosion by mulching and seeding as required. <br />The operation is found to be in compliance with the requirements of this <br />section. <br />XI. VEGETATION (2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e), 4.15) <br />The vegetation on the areas affected by the Orchard Valley mine's surface <br />operations and facilities is characterized by pinyon-juniper stands, mixed <br />mountain shrublands, oakbrush shrublands, and orchard land at the rail loadout <br />facility along the North Fork. The pinyon-juniper type is the most extensive <br />vegetation type occurring in the affected area, covering 49.4 of the 130.5 <br />total disturbed acres. The mixed mountain shrub type occurs along the West <br />side of Steven's Gulch, where 7.3 acres have been disturbed by the mine <br />parking area. The oakbrush vegetation type occurs within the 12 acre proposed <br />disturbance area associated with the west portal. The Orchard Valley mine's <br />rail loadout facilities have disturbed 11 acres of orchard land. Adjacent <br />orchards produce a variety of fruits, including peaches, apricots, prunes, <br />clherries, pears, and apples. <br />