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<br />7. The applicant states on page 6 that as mining is completed, backfill will be placed against mined slopes <br />as part of concurrent reclamation; and on page 14 that the acreage of disturbed areas equals 33.2 acres <br />(24.4 disturbed, plus 8.8 slope). Review of the Mine Plan Map, Exhibit C-3 indicates the following <br />affected areas and acreages: plant, processing, batchplant, and stockpile areas (6.9 acres); Cell 1 (2.8 <br />acres); Cell 2 (20.8 acres): Cell 3 (7.2 acres); Cell 4 (37.6 acres); and wetland mitigation area (13.9 acres). <br />In conformance with Rule 6.4.4(d), please clarify the maximum disturbance to be expected at any one time <br />throughout the life of the operation. Such maximum disturbance should include areas and volumes of pit <br />disturbances assuming near vertical malls, volume of overburden to be generated and stockpiled, volume of <br />topsoil to be salvased and stockpiled, lengths of pit walls that have been backfilled and graded [o finish <br />contours, lengths of backfilled R graded pi[ walls and/or acreages of affected land that have been <br />topsoiled, acreage of land requiring revegetation, and the plant site area. Such maximum disturbance is <br />needed to calculate an appropriate and accurate reclamation cost. As an alternative, the applicant may <br />indicate the entire affected land acreage will be disturbed and provide a reclamation cost estimate adequate <br />to reclaim such disturbance. Please address. <br />6.4.5 EXHIBIT E -Reclamation Plan <br />8. The applian[ indicates on page 14 that [here will be excess overburden generated during the minim <br />process. The Division requests that the applicant clarify [he volume of overburden needed for backfilling <br />and grading [o produce [he desired reclamation contours at a time of maximum disturbance as defined in <br />item 7 above. An itemized cost for backfilling and grading of such volume should be included in the <br />Reclamation Cost Estimate, Exhibit L. (In the event there is an excess of overburden generated, the <br />applicant can either provide an additional reclamation cost for backfilling the excess into [he pit area(s) or <br />commit to stockpiline no more than the volume of overburden needed for backfill and grading during a <br />maximum disturbance scenario). Please respond. <br />9. The applicant indicates on page 14 that there will be excess topsoil generated during the mining process. <br />The Division requests that the applicant clarify the volume of topsoil needed for reclamation at a time of <br />maximum disturbance as defined in item 7 above. Please respond. <br />10. The applicant had ajurisdictional wetlands delineation performed on the Green/Croissant Property in <br />July 2000 by Savage & Savage. Inc.. The results of the delineation indicate that <br />jurisdictional wetlands account for 30.7 acres and waters of the U.S. account for 5.~1 acres within the <br />proposed permit area. Review of the Reclamation Plan Map, Exhibit F shows a reclaimed wetland of 8.3 <br />acres, a potential wetland enhancement area (also shown on Exhibit C as a potential wetland mitigation <br />area) south of Cell 3, a potential wetland enhancement area south of Ce114, and a po[enial shelf for <br />emergent wetland mitigation along the west edee of Cell 4. The applicant also indicates on pages 6 & 7 <br />that some wetlands presently existing in Cells 3 & 4 are believed to have been caused by improper <br />maintenance of tailwater ditches, that these ditches wtll be improved during initial mining operations, and <br />that a new delineation may occur prior to mining these areas. The Division is in agreement with the <br />applicant that a 404 Permit (or other permit as required by the Corps of Engineers) would be obtained prior <br />to mining in any existing jurisdictional wetlands. However, the information referenced above is somewhat <br />confusing. The Division has several concerns with respect to mining within existing jurisdictional <br />wetlands and wetlands reclamation within [he permit area. <br />Firs[, the applicant should clarify the location and acreage of existing jurisdictional wetlands and waters of <br />the U.S. that will be disturbed during the mining operation. The applicant may revise Exhibit C-2 or C-3 <br />to show the location of such wetlands and waters (30.7 & ~.~1 acres) as mapped in the July 2000 Savage <br />& Savage, Inc. wetland delineation. Or, the applicant may commit to submittal of a revised wetlands <br />