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4.03 Phase II <br />Phase H will continue from drainage 2 east to the northeast corner of the mining limits and <br />south to drainage 3. Benches and highwalls in Phase II will be developed beginning at the <br />northern and eastern mining limits and proceed inward and down to the platform elevation 5800 <br />ft established in phase I. The area previously opened in Phase I will be incorporated into Phase <br />II by further excavation to elevation 5700 ft. Final benches and highwalls above elevation 5800 <br />ft in Phase I and some in Phase II will begin to be reclaimed by backfilling the benches to <br />reduce visual impacts. Phase II bench and highwall configurations are shown in figure D-1, <br />Mining Plan. <br />4.04 Phase III <br />Phase III begins development of benches and highwalls from the south side of drainage 3 to the <br />southern corner of the mining limits and ties into Phase I on the southeastern side of drainage 2. <br />Again, the benches and highwalls will be developed from the outer edges of the mining limits <br />inward and down. The area previously opened in Phase II will be incorporated into Phase III by <br />further excavation to platform elevation 5750 ft. Phase I will remain at elevation 5700. Final <br />benches and highwalls above elevation 5800 ft in Phase H and some in Phase III will begin to <br />be backfilled to reduce visual impacts. Phase III bench and highwall configurations are shown <br />in figure D-1, Mining Plan. <br />4.05 Phase IV <br />Phase IV is the continuation of excavation and development of benches and highwalls to the <br />final build-out to a bottom elevation of 5300 ft. Phase IV also encompasses the continuation of <br />backfilling of select previously excavated benches. Final benches and highwalls above <br />elevation 5800 ft in previous phases will begin to be backfilled to reduce visual impacts. Phase <br />IV final build-out bench and highwall configurations are shown in figure D-l, Mining Plan. <br />4.06 Discussion <br />The quarry will be developed to the maximum volume recoverable within the footprint of the <br />limits of mining. Mining will occur within the limits of mining. The maximum recoverable <br />volume is dependent on the final cut slope angles within the mine, which are dependent on the <br />structure and behavior of the rock mass during excavation. The mining plans shown in Figures <br />D-1 through D-4 show the most aggressive maximum build-out configurations which are likely <br />to be achieved if the rock mass properties are sufficient to support the benches and highwalls as <br />shown. These anticipated maximum build-out conditions are based on information gathered <br />during a visit to the proposed quarry site and from a geotechnical investigation performed by <br />J.A. Cesare and Associates, Inc. Phase IA will be used as a trial or demonstration phase in <br />which bench and highwall performance will be evaluated in various orientations. Observations <br />of Phase IA will lead to recommendations for bench and highwall configurations in Phase IB <br />with continued observations of bench and highwall performance as the quarry is developed. <br />A. Observational Method <br />Based on presently available information, it is not practical to model the rock mass in <br />sufficient detail to predetermine absolute final slope configurations. Therefore, the <br />"observational method" approach to determining stability of final cut slopes will be <br />` -employed. The observational method is a rigorous series of interactive steps of <br />excavating rock, observing the condition of the rock mass and behavior of rock slopes, <br />\\Secver0l\common\PROJECTS\106052-000 Parkdale Mine Plan\R. Records and Correspondence\R.11 Reports\Permit_1_24_08.doc