Laserfiche WebLink
New Horizon Mine C-1981-008 <br />March 26, 2008 Meeting w/ 1Landowners <br />Mike and JoEllen mentioned their concerns with a " 25 foot high mountain" in the reclaimed <br />area on the Benson West property, which they say is a significant change in the landscape, <br />and causes them concern regarding runoff or irrigation drainage water that might drain off <br />that rise onto their property, causing them problems. Mike pointed out the feature from a <br />distance during our drive around the property (Mike rode with Dan and JoEllen rode with <br />Marcia). I just said we would have to check the approved post-mining topography map in <br />regard to the feature, .and would look into the concern. The feature is located west of 2700 <br />road, in the area that'JVFC wants to reclaim to dryland or improved pasture, but which Bud <br />Benson wants as irrigated pasture. <br />There were some schE;duling issues that Mike and JoEllen mentioned: why do they (Morgan, <br />et al) have to stop fanning and relinquish the land to WFC a year or more before it is mined? <br />Also, WFC's fuel facility is located at the former "Sunshine Corner" on the Morgan property, <br />and the Morgans are concerned that the site will not be reclaimed for a long period of time, <br />which is apparently iri conflict with promises which had been made to the effect that the <br />Morgans would be able to resume their fanning operations right behind the pit reclamation. I <br />think this may be getting into the area of items that were or maybe were not but should have <br />been addressed in the lease agreements. I told Mike I didn't have knowledge of the permit <br />requirements in regani to those issues, but I said there would obviously be a need for the <br />operator to have control of sufficient acreage in advance of the pit to salvage topsoil and <br />construct necessary sediment and drainage control structures. <br />• The Morgans requestE;d a copy of the Topsoil Salvage TR (TR-57) when it is submitted, <br />because Frank needs ~r copy he can review at home where he has his large reading magnifier <br />set up. We said we thought we would be able to send him a copy of the TR. <br />They mentioned a concern with the large number of prairie dogs that have crossed over from <br />the mine permit area jthe Johnson property, now owned by WFC) to some of their fields that <br />are still being farmed. Dan said we didn't have any authority over prairie dogs or prairie dog <br />activity, although WFC may need to undertake appropriate pest control measures. After the <br />meeting, Dan realized. he may have misunderstood some details of the issue. We concluded <br />that it would be appropriate to follow up on this concern during an upcoming inspection, and <br />determine whether there appears to be a problem for which the permittee will need to take <br />action. <br />• Mike mentioned that 1:he permit says something about soil not being salvaged under the <br />county road right of v~ay, even though it is there, just buried under the gravel. He said that <br />when the road was built, large rock and gravel was placed directly on top of the in situ soils, <br />and that even if the A Horizon soils had been "lost", or contaminated, the B Horizon soils <br />would still be in-place; and salvageable. <br />• Mike pointed to various operational areas such as ponds, ditches, soil stockpile areas, etc., <br />where he felt things were being conducted in sloppy or questionable fashion. Regarding the <br />topsoil handling, Dan said that would be lined out in TR-57 and procedures would likely be <br />-4- <br />