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MINING PLAN <br /> Permit/Affected Land Boundaries: In many places these two critical boundaries follow each other, <br /> but nowhere are they congruent. <br /> Permit Boundary: The permit boundary is defined by the lease description. That is, <br /> because the lease description follows quarter section lines the permit boundary follows those lines. <br /> This way they are easier to identify. <br /> Affected Land Boundary: The affected land is considerably less than the permit area <br /> because it is established by the mining plan and the area expected to be disturbed. The affected land <br /> is actually defined by the two types of setbacks described below. <br /> Setback Characteristics: As mentioned above, the setbacks define the affected land boundary. <br /> There are two types of setbacks included in this plan. One involves a setback from a quarter section <br /> boundary which, as defined above, is the permit boundary. This setback is always set at a constant <br /> 50 feet. That is, no land is to be disturbed within 50 feet of a lease boundary line. <br /> The second setback type involves the edge of the mesa that forms Table Mountain. Because <br /> the mining and reclamation plans are both based on the concept of virtually no disturbance beyond <br /> the rim of the mesa the operation must stay well back of the actual rim. The reason for this "no <br /> disturbance beyond the edge of the mesa" plan is to minimize visual impact. <br /> This setback does not follow a definite distance, but in no case is it less than 50 feet. That <br /> is, no mining or disturbance can occur closer than 50 feet to the edge of the mesa. The only <br /> exception to this is where previous operators spilled rock over the edge of the mesa or cut slots in <br /> the edge. Those disturbances already exist. In essence then, this setback rule requires that no new <br /> disturbances to the edge of the mesa be created, except for a road that will need to be designed for <br /> access to Phase 2. <br /> The actual setback from the mesa edge will be determined by the integrity of the mesa edge. <br /> In some places the edge of the mesa is very secure with little loose rock or loose blocks of rock. In <br /> those situations there is little chance that blasting will break anything loose. However, where the <br /> edge of the mesa is less secure the setback will be as much as 100' from the edge of the mesa. <br /> In summary, all setbacks will be no less than 50 feet, whether it is next to a lease boundary <br /> or next to the mesa edge. But where the mesa edge is less secure and there is a chance of rock fall <br /> being induced from blasting, the setback must be greater and will be set at a maximum of 100 feet. <br /> The only exceptions to this is where there are existing disturbances from previous mining and <br /> where a road must be constructed to access Phase 2. The current condition of the existing <br /> disturbance is shown on Exhibit C-3. <br /> Phases: This operation is divided into two very distinct phases. Phase 1 involves mining in the <br /> vicinity of the existing quarry which is in Section 22. It is this phase that this mining plan <br /> addresses. <br /> Phase 2 is not included in this plan except with respect to defining the area that will be <br /> mined in that phase as delineated by the setback criteria. Phase 2 is included in the existing permit, <br /> but is not planned at this time. This is done for two reasons. <br /> First, Phase 1 will be used as an area where both mining and reclamation techniques will be <br /> perfected. As described below, the mining method that is needed is well known, but because of the <br /> peculiarities of this quartzite those methods may require some modification to increase efficiency. <br /> This is because no crushing will be done. The sizing of the rock will be done primarily through <br /> blasting techniques followed by simple sorting and screening. <br /> Table Mountain Quarry - Castle Concrete Company Exhibit D Page D-3 <br />