_PERMIT FILE - M2000116 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(b) Earthmoving; All topsoil material will be stripped and stockpiled using bulldozers, motorgraders and front-end loaders. All mined materials will be excavated and handled onsite using bulldozers and front-end loaders to feed the crusher/screening equipment spread and to temporarily stockpile processed materials. Front-end loaders will be used to load haul trucks. (c) Water diversions and impoundments, The proposed operation is not expected to directly affect the surface and ground water resources in and around the proposed permit area. The proposed permit area has no stock ponds, streams, ditches or reservoirs,which receive drainage and/or runoff from storm events. As stated in Exhibit G-I and 4, Water Information, this will be a dry pit operation with no effect on water rights,drainage or hydrology of the area. The water table is estimated to be a minimum of 24 feet lower than the pit floor. No surface water will be intercepted disturbed or stored in the pit area. Silt fences and sediment retention berms or ditches will be maintained alongside roads and excavation areas to reduce erosion and limit runoff from storm events into pit areas. The pit access ramp will also have a water berm to limit stormwater from entering the pit area via the ramp. Only through direct precipitation will stormwaters enter the pit areas There are no sources of water for project requirements available within the proposed permit area. Contract crushing operators will supply their own water needs from their own offsite sources. Owner/applicant's project water requirements would be for dust suppression on ramps and haul road areas during loading and hauling activities. The applicant/owner has sufficient water rights in other parts of the San Luis Valley and will supply water via tanker truck from offsite sources for dust abatement. (d) The size of area(s)to be worked at any one time; As stated above in Exhibit D-(a) Mining Plan—Description of Methods, a total of 38.65 acres is within the proposed permit area of which approximately 35 acres will be ultimately disturbed by mining activities. The undisturbed areas will consist of perimeter buffer areas where topsoil material will be stockpiled. Approximately I I acres of initial disturbed area will be required for haul road, equipment staging, and stockpiles. As the excavated pit area increases in size, subsequent crusher mobilizations(several mobilizations may be required to completely mine the site) will use the excavated pit floor areas for equipment set-up and product stockpiles. After crusher equipment and stockpiles have moved into the excavated pit floor area,the initial approximate I]acres of disturbed surface area will be seeded. The final stage of mining activities will consist of mining the"original" 11 acres of disturbed surface area and processing and stockpiling the materials in the pit area until the final excavation limits have been reached. At this point in time it is estimated that each crusher mobilization may disturb 3 to 4 acres per mobilization. As in the initial stage of the proposed operation, 10 to 12 acres may be required for crusher equipment and product stockpiles. After the second, third or fourth crusher mobilization to the site, sufficient area in the pit floor(approximately 10 to 12 acres)may be available to enable subsequent crusher mobilizations to be set-up in the excavated pit floor area. As such, 3 crusher mobilizations may be required to excavate sufficient room for crusher equipment and stockpiles to be relocated into the excavated pit floor area. If initial market demands are high, then the increased pit and crusher production will provide sufficient space in the pit floor much sooner than later. It is anticipated that there will be concurrent reclamation activities carried out on portions of the excavated pit, as operationally feasible,once sufficient space is available for both crusher equipment and topsoil replacement and seeding activities. A total of 20 to 24 acres minimum within the excavated pit floor area will be necessary in order for concurrent reclamation activities so that sufficient room remains in the pit floor area for crusher equipment staging and product stockpiles.