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. repose for the proposed mill tailings, 40°-45°. This will create a stable impoundment, only to be enhanced by the <br />reclamation and re-vegetation measures to be applied. <br />It shall be noted that the natural grade in this vicinity averages 3h : Iv and can be as steep as 2h : Iv. As previously <br />stated at the opening of this Exhibit in Post-Mining Land Use Summary, the vicinity of the Tailings Impoundment is <br />a remote, unpopulated mountainous area. Access is limited and the terrain is steep and inhospitable. Having <br />reclaimed slope faces that exceed 3h : Iv will not have a negative impact to the vicinity, either structurally or <br />visibly. <br />Further downgradient of the Tailings Impoundment, Hukill Gulch becomes even more steep and inaccessible. The <br />Colorado School of Mines owns over a dozen properties in this vicinity; one of which, the Edgar Union Lode, <br />contains three large dumps that are 350' downgrade from the proposed Tailings Impoundment. <br />This operation fits into the local land use, both during and after the reclamation measures have been applied post- <br />operations. <br />6.3.4(1)(c)(i) <br />As stated in the Mining Plan, Exhibit C, 63.3(1)(b), due to the nature of poor topsoil conditions at this site it is <br />impractical to salvage it for future reclamation uses. Additionally, a substantial area is covered with barren, pre- <br />existing abandoned mine waste rock. Inorder for revegetation to be done, plant growth medium will need to be <br />imported and incorporated into the reclaimed surfaces. <br />This medium consists of covering the impoundment area with a 4" blend of municipal Class-A bio-solids and wood <br />chips. The Class-A bio-solids shall be purchased and trucked to the site. They will not need to be produced on-site <br />and a composting program will not need to occur. Class-A bio-solids are produced by certified, carefully regulated <br />(CDPHE jurisdiction) facilities to generate a product that is authorized for direct land application. <br />• The wood chips come from slash and woody refuse generated from beetle kill mitigation of local coniferous trees. It <br />should be noted that the USFS has an ongoing major pine beetle kill remediation project and the availability of wood <br />chips will not only be massive, but using this material will help the local community dispose of this "waste" product. <br />The blend shall consist of an average 1 : 5 volumetric ratio of Class-A bio-solids (1.0 ton/cu. yd.) and woodchips <br />(0.25 ton /cu. yd.). This blend shall be achieved by on-site mixing of the material utilizing a front-end loader. <br />Application shall be 400 tons of the mixture per acre to achieve 4" of coverage, assuming a weight of 0.4 tons/cubic <br />yard (mixture). A staging area for this growth medium is near the top of the Tailings Impoundment shown in <br />Exhibit E. Temporary erosion control measure shall be implemented around this area (ie silt fence, straw bales). <br />This application will augment the deposited solids for the establishment of soil capable of supporting revegetation. <br />The tailings are already pH conditioned, to a value ranging 7.5-9, as per the milling process by the addition of lime. <br />A highland pasture grass seed suitable for this mountain biome will be sowed together with irrigation until <br />permanent vegetation is re-established. A geo-textile or jute netting will then be applied to prevent water and wind <br />erosion. <br />This method of reclamation was successfully implemented by Phelps Dodge at the Climax Mine as referenced in the <br />summary attached to this Exhibit D. Also refer to a summary of biosolids recycling done by the Rocky Mountain <br />Water Environment Association in the appendix of Exhibit T. <br />6.14(1)(c)(6) <br />Phased reclamation shall be part of normal operations. <br />Permanent reclamation and control measures will be installed in 10 feet phased increments (elevation height of one <br />quarter of a terrace) which is estimated to occur every several months. Seeding will occur to coincide with the <br />appropriate time of year for proper germination, whether it is closer to spring or fall season. Additionally, as each <br />40' high terrace is completed, the exposed surface of the terrace will be re-vegetated as described above. <br />•