2009-10-16_REVISION - M1977036 (8)

Home Browse Search

EXHIBIT D Mining Plan General This is an application to amend existing DRMS Permit M-1977-036 for the Greeley 35th Avenue Mine. The existing Greeley 35th Avenue Mine property includes 369 permitted acres and is located in Section 35 and in the northeast quarter of Section 34, Township 6 North, Range 66 West of the 6th PM. The amendment is requested to add an additional 12.38 acres all of which are located in the northeast quarter of Section 34, Township 6 North, Range 66 West of the 6th PM which shall hereafter be referred to as the "Lafarge Brown Property". Therefore, upon approval of the amendment, the Amended Greeley 35th Avenue Mine will include a total of 381.38 acres. The Amended Greeley 35th Avenue Mine is adjacent to and partially within the City of Greeley and is located directly west of North 35th Avenue, along and south of the Cache La Poudre River and north of the Great Western Railroad tracks. Like the currently permitted area, the 12.38 acre area to be added into the permitted acreage contains a significant commercial sand and gravel deposit. Mining activities at the Amended Greeley 35th Avenue Mine will disturb approximately 345.5 acres. The areas not being disturbed are along the Cache La Poudre River outside of a fence around the perimeter of the site. Within the 345.5 acres, the areas not being mined may be used for offsets from existing structures, property lines and waterways; and internal road and conveyor access. Surrounding land uses include agriculture, another gravel mining operation, and some reclaimed gravel mining ponds to the east of the Amended Greeley 35th Avenue Mine. There are a few homes located north of a portion of the existing permitted area along WCR 64 (O Street). The Lafarge Brown Property was drilled during sampling episodes in June and July of 2006, and testing has been performed to verify the sand and gravel deposits are commercially marketable. Based on test results, it is approximated that the overburden on the Lafarge Brown property will amount to approximately 53,000 cubic yards. The amount of topsoil will be approximately 10,000 cubic yards. Topsoil and overburden exist to an average depth of approximately 2.5 to 3 feet over the Lafarge Brown Property. All overburden needed for the construction of the final reclamation slopes will remain on-site. The average depth of sand and gravel on the Lafarge Brown Property is approximately 35 feet across the site and mining at the site is intended to progress down to bedrock; however, the mining cell depth may vary based on geologic and/or other site conditions. The groundwater level for the Lafarge Brown Property lies approximately 9 to 13 feet below natural ground level, on average. The deposit is therefore classified as a wet alluvial deposit. As is currently being done, mining operations will be carried out following dewatering. The entire site (Greeley 35th Avenue Mine plus the Lafarge Brown property) is owned by Lafarge West, Inc. The Lafarge Brown Property will be mined as part of the West Pit which is currently being mined consistent with Permit M-1977-036. While the rate of mining is dependant on market Greeley 35`h Avenue Mine (M-1977-036) DRMS 112 Reclamation Permit Amendment Application Page D1 of D3