SU0004149 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

mining operations, and the remaining 11 acres would be the used for thero osed p p processing plant and associated facilities (i.e., wash ponds, etc.). I Per the requirements of SMARA and the State Mining and Geology Regulations, the * preservation of p topsoil and post-reclamation use of the project site for agricultural practices is required. In their reclamation plan, the proponent proposes agriculture for post- j reclamation use of the 88-acre pit floor. To achieve this, however, fines from the settling ponds would be used (in addition to existing stockpiled topsoil resources). . As proposed, topsoil excavated during extraction activities would be stockpiled and used I to reclaim areas in a phased manner. In so doing, the topsoil resources would likely be used to construct a 5-foot berm (required for visual purposes) along the eastern boundary of the project site. This berm would be constructed and landscaped in the early phases of the project, and would not be used for agricultural practices. Reclamation of the pit floor (i.e., the area where post-reclamation agricultural practices would occur) would be implemented later in the project life and would likely be achieved by use of the fines from the settling ponds, supplemented by stockpiled topsoil only if needed and available. Loss of prime farmland soil and its use for agricultural practices would be a significant impact of Alternatives 1, 2, and 3. (For additional discussion of this impact, as it relates } to the soil resource, refer to Impact 4.2-8 in the Geology, Soils, and Seismicity Section.) i s I ,.�. Alternative 4: No Project Implementation of Alternative 4 (No Project)would result in the continued use of the project site for existing agricultural practices, and no impacts to Prime Farmland resources are anticipated. Mitigation Measure 4.3-2a (Alternatives 1, 2, and 3) The proponent'shall modify the reclamation plan to include the use of excavated !�! topsoil for pit floor reclamation. The amount, location, and method which will be used �I to achieve topsoil placement on the pit floor shall be determined b the Count and y y II proponent, and shall be considered in conjunction with the requirements set forth in Mitigation Measures 4.2-8a, 4.2-8b, and 4.2-8c. 4 Level of Significance After Mitigation: Implementation of Mitigation Measures 4.2-8a through 4.2-8c would reduce the effects on Prime Farmland resources to a less-than-significant level. ,i r; Draft Environmental Impact Report 4-31 ER-96-3 � ` II