2010-01-21_PERMIT FILE - M2009082 (11)

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Key considerations include the following: • The Cache la Poudre riparian corridor passes through the property. In addition, all wetlands on the site have been located and are identified on the pre-mining map. All efforts will be made to preserve and enhance the resources. • All areas designated for preservation will be clearly identified during the mining and reclamation activities for each phase. Isolated wetlands will be delineated with perimeter silt fencing. The 200' setback from the river will be clearly marked in the field and silt fencing will be installed as necessary to implement the CDPHE Storm Water Management Plan for the site. • Fourteen monitoring wells have been installed on the site to establish pre-mining groundwater levels. These wells and selected nearby private water wells will be used to monitor effects from mining and provide information for mitigation of potential impacts on groundwater levels and riparian vegetation, as necessary. Details of the monitoring and mitigation plans are provided in Exhibit G, Attachment G-1. • Maintenance activities on the site will also include a comprehensive Weed Management Plan (see attached) to limit the spread of invasive species into the riparian areas and wetlands. In addition, managed grazing will also help to control invasive species and promote regeneration of native cottonwoods and willows within the riparian corridor. Concurrent reclamation will also widen, buffer and enhance the riparian corridor as each phase is mined and reclaimed. • There is an existing bald eagle nest on an adjacent reclaimed gravel mine located south and east of the site. There are also raptor nests located on site along the Cache la Poudre River. • The sequence and timing of mining and reclamation activities will be managed to limit impacts to the eagles and other raptors, during the nesting season. • There is an opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat through the creation of a combination of open water ponds, silt basin wetlands, river corridor enhancement and shoreline plantings. • Silts generated by the mining process can be utilized to create diverse wetlands and add diversity to the habitat along this portion of the river corridor. • There are existing and planned oil and gas facilities on the site. Mining and reclamation activities will be managed to allow for continued operation and development of mineral resources. New drilling activities will be encouraged to utilize existing, disturbed areas at the maximum extent possible. • There is significant overburden on this site. Excess material will be used as much as possible to create wetland benches adjacent to the river corridor, vary the slope and configuration of the open water ponds, create shorelines that are more irregular and limit the surface area of the ponds to minimize evaporative losses from the groundwater. • Groundwater monitoring wells will be installed to establish pre-mining baseline water levels. Groundwater levels in the area of existing vegetation will be monitored. If levels drop below seasonal levels, dewatering water will be diverted to the areas to sustain existing vegetation to limits impacts during mining. • We anticipate a slight modification to the Phase 2 pond upon review by the landowner's landscape designer. Post-Mining Land Use The post-mining land use, as proposed in this Reclamation Plan, consists of wetlands, enhanced riparian vegetation, unlined ponds and reclaimed upland areas. Parsons Mine DRMS 112 Reclamation Permit Application Page E2 of E9