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~'_ <br />Received <br />6.4.4 EXHIBIT D - Mining Plan <br />This is a new application for a gravel mining operation located in Garfield County. ~R 0 7 2006 <br />Grand Junction Field Officio <br />The disturbance created by this mining operation will not require the diversionmtvision of Minerals rs GeoiogY <br />impoundment of water. Water used in the mining operation will be for occasional watering of <br />the access roadway, in which case the water will be imported and spread by truck. <br />There is no evidence of ground water in the gravel deposit. However, if ground water is <br />encountered, pit floor projections will be revised to maintain a minimum of 2 feet of <br />undisturbed material above the groundwater. <br />The affected area is illustrated on Exhibit C-1 Pre-Mining Topography. The location of <br />existing features, immediately adjacent structures and other pertinent information are also <br />portrayed on this map. The life of the mine, based on the present demand for materials, is <br />estimated to be about 2 years based on a production rate of 100,000 tons per year; the actual <br />rate of mining will depend on the changing demand for construction materials. Mining will <br />begin in spring or summer of 2006. <br />The material to be mined is weathered sandstone and shale located along the ridge top. <br />Typically, this stratum is weathered up to 20-feet deep. Underlying this weathered strata are <br />hard layers of sandstone and shale. The only commodity to be mined is the weathered <br />sandstone and shale. This material will be used for unclassified fill material, used to plate <br />roadways, drill pads, parking lots and industrial sites. <br />Mining will begin at the northernmost end of the disturbance area and will continue to the <br />southern edge of the permit boundary. The site will be mined to a depth of about 20-feet. <br />Mining will generally create a flat and gently sloping surface with no steeper than 3H:1 V <br />slopes on any edge of the pit. Explosives will not be used in the mining or reclamation <br />operations. <br />A three foot high berm will be constructed around the disturbed shale pit to contain runoff of <br />stormwater from precipitation events and snowmelt. Mining will be done in one phase, <br />therefore, the bem will be constructed immediately following the beginning of the mining <br />process and will be expanded as the pit is expanded and will be left in place for the duration of <br />mining. The berm will be wheel rolled to ensure its integrity. Fifty foot long silt fences will be <br />placed at low points in the berm. Silt fences slow flow and filter sediment from stormwater run- <br />off. <br />There are few if any noxious weeds throughout the projected disturbance area. Noxious <br />weeds on the permit area will be controlled as per the prevention plan included in Exhibit J - <br />Vegetation. <br />Available topsoil will be stripped from the area to be disturbed and stockpiled along the west <br />edge of the pit. Topsoil stockpile slopes will not be steeper than 3H:1 V. Approximately 14 to <br />15,000 cubic yards of topsoil will be salvaged. As a stabilization measure, any topsoil which <br />is to be stockpiled longer than about one growing season will be broadcast seeded with a <br />perennial sod-forming grass cover such as western wheatgrass at a typical rate of 20 <br />pounds/acre. <br />3/7/06 <br />