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Sufficient topsoil exists to replace 8 -12 inches on the reclaimed shorelines, shallow areas and <br />upland areas for vegetation establishment. <br />Topsoil stockpiles have been used to create berms along the north side of the active mining pit in <br />order to minimize the visual impact along U.S. Highway 6 & 40. These areas have been <br />stabilized per the recommendations of the National Resource Conservation Service. At the <br />request of the land owner, upon completion of mining, topsoil in berms not needed for <br />reclamation will be leveled and blended into the surrounding topography and the adjacent <br />shoreline. In addition, excess topsoil may be sold to facilitate stockpile leveling. <br />Expansion area mining will remove the southward extension of the existing berm. It will be used <br />to the extent possible for reclamation at that time. Remaining topsoil from the southward berm <br />extension will be used to start the creation of the new berm along and between the Pit extension <br />and the railroad right-of-way. The remainder of the new berm will be constructed with topsoil. <br />Product Stockpiles: <br />No stockpiles outside of the proposed pit boundary are anticipated. Any excess overburden from <br />the Hogue River Pit may be used as backfill in the Bettger Pit in order to achieve AOC. <br />(c) Water diversions and impoundment: <br />With the exception of the irrigation ditch running along the north side of the present Hogue River <br />Pit, there are no water diversions or impoundments. All other water diversions and <br />impoundments are part of the current Hogue River Pit mining operations and will be needed for <br />the expansion. For example, the current practice of dewatering the pit area for mining will be <br />continued. Water diversions have been constructed with perimeter trench drains and a <br />dewatering system. Interior water diversions have been constructed for internal site drainage <br />control. A 100 foot setback or no work zone will be maintained between the Yampa River and <br />the pit area so that impacts to Yampa River flows in normal years will not occur. An <br />appropriately sized and rip rapped overflow channel will be constructed connecting the pond <br />with the Yampa River to prevent pit or pond capture in major runoff events. The design for this <br />structure will be submitted as a technical revision prior to final site reclamation. <br />As described in the attached Flood Plain Analysis, portions of the expansion area lie within the <br />100 year flood plain. A small berm has been constructed along the south side of the Operation to <br />ensure the pit will not be flooded by a 100 year flood event. This berm will be continued around <br />the south and west sides of the expansion area. <br />Due to the low lying nature of the land where the mining operation is occurring, and proximity to <br />the Yampa River, the water table is from three to six feet below the undisturbed land surface. <br />Therefore, the mining operation must pump ground water in order to make the site suitable for a <br />dry mining operation. The pumped water is currently being discharged to a pond for removal of <br />Page 10