2011-09-29_PERMIT FILE - M2009056

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During winter shutdown (proposed as the end of November through the end of April) and extended non - operational times, all rolling equipment will be stored off property. In addition, conveyor belts will be removed from conveyors, fuel tanks will be emptied, and oils will be placed in a shed located in the storage area of the property. The site will be monitored during winter shut downs at least once every two weeks. A sign will be posted at the property entrance with the operator phone number, sheriff's number, and local government office numbers. An adequate fence will be constructed and no trespassing signage will be posted around the pit/operation area to keep out visitors and larger wildlife. Reclamation Upon mine completion, all equipment and materials will be removed from the site prior to final reclamation. Concurrent reclamation, as outlined in 43 CFR 3809.420, would begin when the 25 foot depth is reached and the mining area is 60 feet from the north and east wall (northeast corner of mine area). The pit will continue to be backfilled as it is mined, keeping a distance of approximately 30 feet from the active pit operations. By the time mining is complete in the pit, there would be a 30 foot area left to backfill, which would be graded with a slight slope or flat. Final reclamation would consist of sloping the sidewalls at a 3 to 1 (horizontal /vertical), followed by fertilizing, mulching, seeding, and application processes as recommended by the Natural Resource Conservation Service and in accordance with the state 110(2) permit. The mine plan includes discussion of the creation of fines as part of mining /milling, which would be stored and utilized in final reclamation. There will also be some materials produced such as cobbles (larger than 4 inch) that will be stockpiled and these waste materials can also be utilized in final reclamation. Final reclamation procedures will also be identified within the State Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety 110(2) permit. One procedure clearly identified in the mine proposal is seeding of topsoil stockpiles. Ensuring that these sites are adequately vegetated will assist in ensuring success in final reclamation. The land will ultimately be restored to pre- existing or better than pre- existing conditions in order to provide for future use by multiple user groups, to include recreational. BLM will be the lead federal agency for conducting the EA and determining if the proposed project will involve significant impacts. CDRMS will retain primary permitting and bonding authority for this proposed action. All information and findings made by the BLM during the EA process will be forwarded to CDRMS for consideration during their permitting process. In this state /federal relationship the BLM will act, in part, as the role of a land owner utilizing the environmental assessment decision as the land owner consent. Local, state, and federal permit requirements may be identified throughout the development of this environmental analysis and/or the state 110 (2) permit process. However, BLM does not enforce other regulations. 2. No Action Alternative: Under the 1872 Mining Law, the no action alternative cannot be considered by BLM for a proposal of gold placer mining. Under this law BLM has no discretionary authority over the mining of locatable minerals and is limited to only imposing mitigation requirements and preventing unnecessary or undue degradation of the public lands in accordance with 43 CFR 3809 regulation. BLM does, however, have discretionary authority over a proposal for the mining of mineral 8