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i <br />(Mining Plan page 2) <br /> <br />Groundwater: <br />Moffat County dug 25 prospect holes on the proposed mining lease on July 23rd & 24th <br />2008 with a backhoe. No ground water was intercepted. This project will not <br />intentionally divert stormwater for beneficial use, nor will it affect the "Waters of the <br />State of Colorado and of the United States." Local waters may settle in the low areas of <br />the excavations, and, if such water collects in a substantial way, or if it becomes <br />impounded for a substantial period of time, we will notify the BLM of that event, and <br />recommend that they apply for a water storage right for agricultural, wildlife and <br />industrial uses such as dust control. <br />Proposed Methods of Operation Including Equipment. <br />The clay deposit is a layer of decomposed claystone between 3 and 6 feet thick. The <br />average depth is expected to be 4 feet. The clay will more than likely be mined with a <br />rubber-tired front end loader and loaded directly onto belly dump trucks and/or 20 yard <br />dump trucks for hauling to the project sites (including the Little Snake Pit No. 26). The <br />clay may also be mined and transported with scrapers. Moffat County will also use a "D- <br />8" Caterpillar tractor and a maintainer during the mining and reclamation phases of this <br />clay pit. No explosives will be used in this mining operation. <br />Topsoil: <br />The average depth of the topsoil is 0.4 to 0.8 feet; and a shallow layer of sandy loam <br />overlays the clay. The topsoil will be stripped and stockpiled in an inactive portion of the <br />permitted area west of the excavation pit. The stockpiles will be protected from drainage <br />channels until they are needed for reclamation; they will be protected from contamination <br />by other stored materials. Overburden, if any, will be stored near the "Materials Storage" <br />area but kept separated from it (see Exhibit C-1). Topsoil and Overburden stockpiles will <br />be identified by signs, and stabilized with Moffat County's standard seed-mix (see <br />Exhibit E-2). <br />Stormwater Drainage: <br />Moffat County will comply with the stormwater drainage regulations, and seek the <br />permits, where necessary. By necessity, and for safety reasons, we may detour the <br />existing drainage routes during the mining phase of this operation. But we will maintain <br />the continuity and function of the stormwater drainage system. We will not intentionally <br />divert stormwater into the pit area for storage, or for beneficial use. <br />Haul Roads: <br />Because of the nature of the clay materials that we will be producing, Moffat County will <br />likely develop some gravel haul roads in the permitted area to service the excavation and <br />materials storage zones. The ground is very flat, and even the topsoil is burdened with <br />clay. A heavy storm could shut the clay mining and hauling operation down for several <br />days at a time without graveled and drained haul roads.