2010-07-27_PERMIT FILE - M2009076 (23)

Home Browse Search

quantities for future reclamation uses. Additionally, over 30% of the impoundment area is currently covered with • existing waste rock. Venture Resources is going to do our best in salvaging any native, Cathedral soil for reclamation. This will be stored in the TopsoilBiosolids Staging Area shown in the Exhibit E drawings. Within the Tailings impoundment area, a great deal of the pre-existing surface is covered with abandoned mine waste rock. Once this material is removed for processing, it will be re-impounded in the same place and reclamation will proceed as outlined in Exhibit D. Refer to Exhibit B for the National Resource Conservation Service (MRCS) soil classification data. 6.4.20(17)(c)(i) Refer to Exhibit B for the NRCS soil classification data. 6.4.20(17)(c)(H) Refer to Exhibit B for the NRCS soil classification data. 6.4.20(17)(c)(iii) Venture Resources has sought the advice of the MRCS for guidance in specifying a reclamation soil and seeding plan. The NRCS has provided their recommendations in a letter that has been attached to the appendix of Exhibit D. As stated in the Mining Plan Exhibit C - 6.3.3(1)(b) and considering the nature of poor topsoil conditions at this site (0-2" Cathedral soil and virtually no accumulation of true A horizon topsoil, as previously described in Exhibit B) it will be challenging to salvage any significant quantities for future reclamation uses. Additionally, over 30% of the impoundment area is currently covered with existing waste rock. Venture Resources is going to do our best in salvaging any native, Cathedral soil for reclamation. NRCS recommends removing the pre-existing waste rock down to native soil and then salvaging the first 3 inches of this native soil. This will be stored for later use in the TopsoilBiosolids Staging Area shown in the Exhibit E drawings. It will be very likely that soil will need to be • imported. Reclaimed or imported topsoil shall be applied over the uncapped tailings for a depth of 6 inches. NRCS states that. the available water holding capacity of the Cathedral soil is 0.06-0.07 inches/inch (i.e. 6 inches of Cathedral soil can store approximately 0.4 inch of water). The tailings will also provide for some moisture storage. During the growing season in this vicinity there will be about 7 inches of precipitation. NRCS states that most commercially available grass species require 10 to 1.4 inches of precipitation. hnorder to improve the soil's water holding capacity, organic matter will need to be added and to the soil. The NRCS strongly recommends the application of certified weed free straw (applied at 2 tons per acre) covered with bio-degradable netting or application of wood cellulose hydro mulch with a long-lived tackifier. Temporary erosion control measures shall be implemented around this area during this activity (ie silt fence, straw bales, see SWMP). An alternate method of preparing the topsoil utilizing Class A biosolids may also be used. The DRMS has stated that amending the salvaged topsoil with Class A biosolids to achieve three percent, 3%, organic content will provide for "superior plant growth medium". Soil testing shall be conducted to verify this percentage. Class A biosolids shall be incorporated at a rate of forty tons per acre. The NRCS recommendation of applying certified weed free straw (applied at 2 tons per acre) covered with bio-degradable netting or application of wood cellulose hydro mulch with a long-lived tackifier shall also be followed with this alternate method. The tailings are already pH conditioned, to a value ranging 7.5-9, as per the milling process by the addition of time. In the appendix of this Exhibit T, there is description of biosolids recycling done by the Rocky Mountain Water Enviromnent Association. 6.4.20(17)(c)(iv) Because of the nature of the incremental, phased reclamation proposed, there will be an opportunity to measure the success of this re-vegetation plan and provide for a chance to modify the method with soil amendments and/or • fertilizers on a as needed basis. Page 30 of 31