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EXHIBIT E - Reclamation Plan (Cont) <br />APPLICABLE RECLAMATION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />GRADING - The only affected areas having slopes differing fron original topography <br />are the inactive and active tailings ponds. These are areas which were not worked <br />by machinery but were formed by continued tailings deposition. The slopes of these <br />ponds are compatible with existing terrain and with the selected land use proposed <br />in the reclamation plan.- ~~~~ « -~'°-= -` `~' -~-~ <br />WATER - This operation produces a minimal effect on the surrounding watershed. As <br />a result, the hydrologic balance of the area is not affected one way or ,another. <br />The milling process, which is the major consumption source of water in this operation <br />(1,000 gpm), returns 60Z of the water used back to the hydrosphere, via the tailings <br />and decant settling ponds. The effluent released from the final decant :settling L ,~-' ~}? <br />~ ~ ~',' <br />ponds is in compliance with Federal and State of Colorado water quality :-egulationa. <br />Water used in the mining operation is obtained from natural faults :ln the mine. <br />The water, which is used primarily for dust control while drilling, is n~~t chemically <br />altered, and leaves the mine as it entered. <br />The remaining area where water is utilized is in the reclamation plain. The <br />amount of water used for irrigation of revegetation plots and dust control is small <br />and causes no damage to the water\-quality or hydrologic balance of the area. <br />~7 'b~ GK4K7 ~ f 1 <br />WILDLIFE - The major disturbances of wildlife habitat created by this mining and <br />~lling operation have already been incurred. Present mining and milling; operations <br />support minimum activity levels in existing natural habitats. Such levels of activity <br />and noise do not noticeably conflict with critical periods of wildlife life cycles. <br />IC must be noted, though, that wildlife populations existing on affected lands are <br />small, containing mainly small mammals and some birds. <br />Enactment and termination of the reclamation plan, in conjunction with proposed <br />land use, will provide rehabilitation and improvement of wildlife habitat in th- <br />area. This is being accomplished by establishing a diverse vegetative cover. <br />TOPSOILING - A topsoil stockpile consisting of peat has been placed where it is <br />readily accessible for usage in this reclamation plan. The pile was graded and seeded <br />to inhibit wind and water erosion. Woody vegetation (willows) was incorporated into <br />-21- <br /> <br />