2009-09-02_REVISION - M1998022 (4)

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EXHIBIT E-Reclamation Plan The reclamation plan for the original 110 permit area (private land) is expected to be used in that area to complete the reclamation of the 2008 mining area in the upper northeast corner of the site as the harvesting operations move onto the USFS lands to the north. The reclamation plan for the USFS lands is defined by the design criteria in the EA and the Minerals Material Permit stipulations. The existing reclamation plan includes the following components. The disturbed area is rough graded to a 2:1 or shallower slope. The areas that have some soil are seeded and mulched in the Fall. Depressions are created in the slope out of the native materials to hold soil. Soil is brought in to fill the depressions so that small trees or shrubs can be planted. Three trees are planted to replace one 12" diameter tree that is damaged by harvesting activities. On the USFS lands, the reclamation plan includes the following components. Post-harvesting slopes and roads will be re-graded to a 2:1 slope. In the unlikely event that the surface rock is harvested to a depth that uncovers soil, rock will be replaced to cover the bare soil. Reclamation bonding will be consistent with the State permit. The edges of the disturbed area will be graded into the existing slopes as needed. The larger trees, plus 12" diameter will be left in place on private land to enhance the post mining land use of wildlife habitat. The existing land use is wildlife habitat. The areas that are to be avoided on the USFS lands are described in Exhibit D - Mining Plan. Contemporaneous reclamation would be used to keep the net disturbed area less than 1 acre al any one time. The table on Exhibit F summarizes the contemporaneous reclamation activities to date and shows that the net 1 acre of disturbed land at the end of any harvesting season is reasonable. The reclamation bond estimate is included in Exhibit L. The existing access road off Gunnison County Road 3 would remain to provide access to the Robert Raymond property and not be reclaimed. The existing harvesting road on the Gallegos and Associates property will be left in place for the landowner's use as stipulated in the existing permit. Any harvesting roads on USFS lands will be reclaimed when no longer needed by the operations. The EA includes provisions for monitoring of the harvesting area from across the Crystal River from key observation points (KOP) to assess if any scenic resource degradation has occurred on USFS lands. Pictures will be taken on an annual basis from the two KOPs and sent to the USFS with the CDRMS annual report. The scenic degradation concern is the exposure of lighter rock after harvesting creating a contrast with the darker moss covered rocks on the surface. The EA presents potential mitigation measures if needed. As the bulk of the harvesting activity on USFS lands will occur in a depression or behind trees, the scenic resource degradation is not expected to be a problem. The existing disturbance on private lands is excluded from the EA as the USFS has no jurisdiction on private lands.