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~I <br />CHAPTERTWO Proposed Action and Alternatives <br />2.2.1.1 Well Field <br />Well Field Layout <br />The proposed layout of the well field is illustrated in Figure 2-2. Areas outlined in Figure 2-2 <br />would be sequentially developed over 30 years according to the 5-yeaz time intervals indicated, <br />' i.e., during Yeaz 0 through Year 5, during Year 5 through Year 10, and so on. These areas, or <br />"mining panels," were selected for development because they are located on ridgetops, which <br />would make them the simplest azeas to develop and reclaim. Note that some 5-year mining <br />' panels aze not located next to each other, in which case their components bear letter designations <br />' Development of a typical well field mining panel is illustrated in Figure 2-3. Sources of <br />disturbance within each mining panel would include developing well pads for each solution <br />mining well, building a system of access roads within the mining panel, and establishing a <br />solution collector pipe and pipe rack network. <br />At times, two of the 5-yeaz mining panels outlined in Figure 2-2 would be under development at <br />the same time. For instance, as development of the 0-5 year panel approaches completion, <br />development of the 5-] 0 yeaz panel would commence so that there would always be sufficient <br />solution mining wells in production to feed the processing plants. Reclamation of the 0-5 year <br />panel would begin at approximately the same time as development of the 5-10 yeaz panel, as <br />described in Section 2.2.7.2. Therefore, at any one time, the disturbed area (i.e., acreage in an <br />unreclaimed, barren and/or unvegetated state) in the well field would roughly approximate the <br />' size of one of the mining panels, i.e., from approximately 59 acres to 98 acres. <br />Within the well field, timber greater than 4 inches diameter at breast height would be removed <br />and salvaged. Scraping and grading equipment, such as bulldozers and graders, would be used to <br />remove other vegetation. Vegetation clearing would be limited to the minimum necessary. In <br />construction corridors, piping corridors, and other azeas where soil disturbance may not be <br />required, low-lying vegetation, including shrubs and trees, would be left in place to the extent <br />possible. Where earthmoving is required, topsoil would be salvaged and stockpiled for use in <br />later reclamation. <br />Development Sequence and Schedule <br />In general, the well field development sequence is based on the concept of two-pass mining. On <br />the first pass, every other well location would be developed to its maximum size. On the second <br />pass, wells would be developed at locations midway between the solution mining wells <br />developed during the first pass. Well spacing would be 600 feet after the first pass and 300 feet <br />after the second pass. This would equate to a total mined area per mining panel of approximately <br />40 percent. Simultaneous mining of adjacent wells spaced at less than 600 feet is not anticipated <br />after the initial stages of mining, as discussed below. <br />Each mining pass may take 1 to 3 years to complete. Road and piping networks would be <br />' developed in concert with the two-pass development schedule. The main access roads and main <br />solution piping system would be constructed during the first pass. Minor access roads and piping <br />as shown on Figure 2-2. The size of each 5-yeaz mining panel is shown on Table 2-2 <br />2~ <br />