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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.02 Reclamation plan and timetable• RECLAMATION PLAN AND TIMETABLE' exhibit E EXHIBIT E RECLAMATION PLAN AND TIMETABLE Reclamation Plan. The planned future use of the affected land is irrigated grazing land. It is expected that in the process of soil removal, excavation of sand and gravel and redistribution of soil, many of the inherent problems with the affected land will be solved. The land to be excavated is very marginal grazing land at best. Two soils are distributed over the affected land. One soil is good silty, sandy loam. The other soil is a rocky silt or sand that is 50 -75% rock. This rocky soil has been a problem on the ranch for almost 100 years. Most of this rock will go through the gravel processing system. Only the good soil will be redistributed. Mining is planned in 18 stages. Each stage is to be followed by a reclamation phase. Numbering of each reclamation phase will correspond to the numbering of the mining stages (see map Exhibits D -1 and F). Reclamation will start on each phase in the first year after the completion of the corresponding mining stage. The mining plan anticipates the excavation of the west side slopes on a grade of 3 to 1 (see map Exhibit F) and the creation of relatively smooth floors. Reclamation will begin with redis- tribution of soils. During the first fall after soils are redis- tributed, the phase will be drilled with the prescribed seed mixture and will be fertilized and mulched. During the three or four years remaining in the reclamation phase, reclamation progress -EXHIBIT -E ( Cont d } will be monitored by Sievers Ranch, and remedial work will be performed where necessary. Reclamation Standards. Mining will create a topography appro- priate to the final land use. Only very minor grading may be necessary. Slopes of 3 to 1 will be created by mining along the long west side and the short south side. The remainder of the property will slope very gently north and west. This open pit operation has no drill holes or auger holes remaining and has no addits or shafts. There are to be no earth dams. No toxic or acid - forming material will be encountered or used in the operation. All refuse will be hauled off the site so that unsightliness and deleterious effects will be controlled. In those areas where revegetation is part of the reclamation plan, land will be revegetated in such a way as to establish a diverse, effective, and long - lasting vegetative cover that is capable of self - regeneration and is at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the surrounding area. Refer to Revegetation Program later in this report for details. Soil removal and storage was discussed in Exhibit D. Soils will be used to prepare seedbeds in areas to be revegetated to a depth of about ten to twelve inches in the level areas and six inches on the slope areas. EXHIBIT ._..(Cont ,.d) .. This operation is not expected to directly affect surface or ground water systems. Sievers Ranch believes it is in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations governing water and water rights. There is no application of the river dredge law or siltation structure removal requirement. See Exhibit G for more details concerning water. Area outside the perimeter of the affected land will not be affected in any foreseeable way by slides, runoff or other func- tions of the mining and reclamation operations. All land area of the affected land will be stabilized through revegetation and appropriate slopes so as to control erosion and attendant air and water pollution. To the extent that range conditions are improved by redistri- buting the soils, it is believed that wildlife habitat in the area will be enhanced by the reclamation plan. See Exhibit H for more details. Revegetation Program. The revegetation program to be carried out by Sievers Ranch & Development Company is discussed below. This plan is excerpted from a report by Mr. Mark A. Heifner, Environmental Consultant. Grasses. Two grass seed mixtures are recommended by Mr. Heifner; one for the level irrigated land and one for the sloped non - irrigated land. Level, Irrigated 25 live seed/ square foot Pounds Species PLS /Acre Western Wheatgrass 5.0 Fairway Wheatgrass 1.0 Kentucky Bluegrass 0.1 Smooth Brome 1.5 Timothy 0.2 Red Clover 0.2 Total 8.0 (Multiply by 2 if broadcast) EXHIBIT E (Cone ±d) Slope, Non - irrigated 50 live seed /square foot Pounds Species PLS /Acre Streambank Wheatgrass 11.0 Pubescent Wheatgrass 11.0 Smooth Brome 2.0 Sand Dropseed 0.1 Total 24.1 (Divide by 1.6 if drilled) It is expected that the level areas will be drilled and the slopes will be broadcast. Planting of grasses is planned for the fall of planting years. It is hoped that grass planting will occur between September 15 and October 10. Fertilizer. It is Mr. Heifner's recommendation that the necessity for application of fertilizers be determined by testing the soil after it is redistributed. If possible, growth test and analysis may be used. If it is determined that fertilizers are needed, application should occur prior to seeding, at the beginning of the second growing season, or possibly both. Mulch. A mulch of 1500 to 2000 pounds per acre of air -dry straw is to be applied after grass seeding is completed. The mulch will be disced or crimped in. The straw will meet Soil Conservation Service standards for straw mulch. Mining Timetable. The reclamation phases listed below may be correlated to map Exhibit F. The phases correspond to the mining EXHIBIT E (.Cont.'d). stages in Exhibits D and D -1 and are numbered accordingly. Note that these are estimates only and that times may vary radically depending on market, weather and the general economy. RECLAMATION TIMETABLE Total Total Acres + Slope Acres + Level Acres + Phase Years Acres ± Road To Revegetate To Revegetate To Revegetate I 9 -15 18.11 0.43 17.68 2.37 15.31 II 3 -5 5.57 -0- 5.57 -0- 5.57 III 3 -5 4.87 -0- 4.87 -0- 4.87 IV 3 -5 6.90 0.42 6.48 3.38 3.10 V 3-5 6.22 -0- 6.22 -0- 6.22 VI 3 -5 7.07 -0- 7.07 -0- 7.07 VII 3 -5 6.49 -0- 6.49 -0- 6.49 VIII 3 -5 5.71 0.28 5.43 -0- 5.43 IX 3 -5 5.66 0.17 5.49 -0- 5.49 X 3-5 6.09 --0- 6.09 1.40 4.69 XI 3 -5 5.57 -0- 5.57 1.38 4.19 XII 3 -5 5.70 -0- 5.70 2.07 3.63 XIII 3-5 6.85 -0- 6.85 4.77 2.08 XIV 3 -5 6.13 -0- 6.13 3.32 2.81 XV 3-5 6.53 -0- 6.53 -0- 6.53 XVI 0.5 -1.5 10.03 -0- 10.03 -0- 10.03 XVII 57-96 3.45 -0- 3.45 -0- 3.45 P 6.00 0.34 5.60 2.29 3.37 122.95 1.64 121.31 20.98 100.33