2009-07-23_REVISION - M2001023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 r. effort will be made to ensure that excavation and regarding operations are as contemporaneous as operationally possible. This means that excavation will occur to slopes which are consistent with the proposed shoreline slopes shown on the Camilletti Milner Pit # 2 - Reclamation Plan Map. This means that as much as possible the excavated slopes will be cut as close as possible to the slopes needed for final reclamation. In addition, these excavated slopes will be prepared and topsoiled with fresh salvaged topsoil typically within a few weeks following excavation. During the initial development phase of development in Mine Blocks 1 and 2 contemporaneous reclamation will not be possible and an area of approximately 7 acres in size will need to be disturbed before it will be possible to practice contemporaneous reclamation. However, during the steady state operations of th :;se two mine pits it will be possible to practice this type of contemporaneous reclamation. As much as operationally possible the Applicant is proposing that all excavation and regrading operations be combined into a single operation phase. This combination of mining and reclamation will ensure that the positive benefits associated with direct haul topsoil replacement are not lost due to stockpiling or that the replaced topsoil is regarded following replacement which will result in significant mortality to the volunteer plant materials in the respread topsoil. 3. Reveutation. The proposed mine site is located in an existing grazing unit containing several hundred acres and even although the final configuration of the reclaimed pond associated with the gravel mine will consist of a water body that will be used for private recreation, the primary land use of this area in terms of the overall management unit involved will consist of being returned to the original land use currently found on the site, that being of rangeland. Thus the intended post-mining land use of the site will be consistent with the current land use of the site, namely that of rangeland. Therefore, the proposed revegetation plan for this project will emphasize the reclamation of the disturbed areas to a rangeland type of environment. The Applicant recognizes that secondary land uses of recreation and wildlife habitat can be associated with this site, the primary land use and overall goal of the revegetation efforts associated with this project will be to return this site to a rangeland land use. The proposed revegetation methodologies and seed mixtures which will be used at this site are found in the enclosed soils and vegetation report. (a) Thickness of Reapplied Topsoil. As required by local and state mining regulations, before mining commences, the uppermost 12 to 18 inches of topsoil should be stripped, and stockpiled as needed for final reclamation. As much as operationally possible all of the topsoil which is removed from future mining disturbance areas, should be directly applied to regraded slopes generated from previous mining operations. Directly applied topsoil should be regraded as soon as it is reapplied to prevent damage to the volunteer vegetation contained in this topsoil. Topsoils which are placed in stockpiles which will remain in place for more than one growing season should be seeded with a mixture of 50 percent Smooth Bromegrass and 50 percent Pubescent Wheatgrass, at a rate of 30 pound, PLS per acre. Reapplication of salvaged topsoils onto the regraded slopes should be done as soon as operationally possible once grading has been completed. Due to the relatively high nutrient content of these alluvial soils it should not be necessary to apply supplemental fertilizers. However, in the event that poorer quality topsoils or subsoil materials are used for revegetation, then these areas should be fertilized with a minimum of 40 pounds of available nitrogen and 10