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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3 (2)ki =L'1' BALDWIN CONTRACTING COMPANY, INC. GENERAL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS 2 TgA(`rm 1764 SKYWAY / CHICO, CA 95928 (530) 891-6555 (530) 894-6220 FAx December 4, 2003 Mr. Dan Breedon, AICP Principal Planner Butte County Department of Development Services 7 County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965 Dear Mr. Breedon: ' Enclosed please find the revised reclamation plan for the M&T Chico Ranch Mine. This Plan has been revised to fit the reclamation plan form you recently provided and to address the staff recommendations in the Butte County Planning Commission's Agenda Report of October 23, 2003 regarding Baldwin Contracting Company's request for a mining permit and reclamation plan for -the M&T Chico Ranch Mine. Other changes have been made to reflect changes to the project since the initial application was submitted as well as mitigation requirements of the ' Environmental Impact Report (EIR). For example, the ready mix and asphalt plants have been eliminated and water management structures required by the EIR mitigation requirements have been addressed. Except for those changes, the reclamation plan remains essentially the same as ' that presented in the DEIR. Revised Exhibits #1 and #2 (plan views and cross sections of the mining and reclamation plan) were provided to you with my letter of November 26 which specifically addressed the October 23 conditions. As we have discussed and as was presented at the October 23 2003 planning commission meeting, the M&T Chico Ranch Mine reclamation plan is similar to the reclamation plan at Baldwin Contracting Company's Hallwood Mine in Yuba County. Reclamation at Hallwood has been quite successful and has resulted in a variety of desirable species inhabiting the area.. This type of reclamation has also resulted in the establishment of excellent wildlife habitat at other ' SMARA permitted aggregate mines in California. The M&T reclamation plan includes several enhancements of the Hallwood plan since Hallwood did not include the intentional construction of so much shallow water habitat. Further enhancements include a nesting island. Also similar to Hallwood, the sedimentation and erosion control plan will build on the successful procedures used for many years at Hallwood. Most runoff will be retained on site and erosion and sedimentation control will be based on the storm water permit requirements of the Regional ' Water Quality Control Board and the associated Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) which will be prepared for this site. ` As you are aware, the original application was submitted on two different forms as the Butte County Planning Division was in the process of changing application forms when this permit application was originally submitted. Also, several additional- studies were completed after the 29 Mr. Dan Breedon, AICP December 4, 2003 Page 2 -- initial application was submitted and should be included as attachments to the reclamation plan. The excavation stability study (Appendix E in the DEIR) should be included as Attachment 1 to the reclamation plan as it was completed after initial submittal of the reclamation plan application. Similarly, the hydrology study, flooding study and groundwater quality report ' (Appendices D-1, D-2 and D-3 in the DEIR) should be included as Attachments 2, 3 and 4 to the reclamation plan for the same reasons. We also suggest adding the Department of Conservation's Mineral Land Classification for this site (DMG Open File Report 2004-04) as ' Attachment 5 and the Jurisdictional Wetland Delineation of November 1996 as Exhibit 6. All six of these documents have been previously submitted to support the permit and reclamation plan application and all six are pertinent to the mining and reclamation plan. ' If you have any questions or require additional information please contact me at 891-6555 or Mike Pole at 1-800-982-5339 extension 413. Sincerely, 'r r , Rene A. Vercru ssen �'O Y President Enc. 30 I I - I - I - I - LI I 1 Jun -16-04 16:12 from -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 T-495 P.06 F-875 M kT Chico Ranch Mine Reclamation Plan Supplemental Attachment Revised December 4, 2003 Item 1 Most of the site is present y in agricultural production or fallowed. Some native vegetation remains in unti.I led areas, The lowest portions of swales in the area support patchy remnant plant com munities composed of wetland forbs, native grasses, rushes w -d sedges. Several stands of :agricultural weeds are present across the site. Weedy species include mustards, annual Nonnative grasses, dock, and other ruderal species typical ofdry land agricultural areas them are frequently left fallow. The native plant communities encountered can be descri► ed as phases of the valley oak savanna which was originally common and wide -spread :Tong riven of the Sacramento Valley. The site has several stands of valley oaks (Que ecus lobate) growing in a native grass/sedge community composed of Carex praegr;keillis, Hordeum brachyantherum, Carex barbarea and Juncus balticus. These groves art: isolated by farming activities. Several areas on the M&T Ranch retain native riparian plant communities typical of the Sacramento Valley. Mixer gallery forests of valley oaks, walnuts, cottonwoods, willow and understory shrubs (but i onbush, elderberry, etc.) downstream of the mine site and in areas' along sloughs of the Sacramento River within a couple ofmiles of themine site will serve as sources of aer. is and planting stock for the revegetation effort. Most of the mined area wil . be a lake but shallow wetland and adjacent upland habitat will be reclaimed on the m ,rgins of the lake. Native vegetation recruitment (windblown seed, animal transport, etc, I will occur over much of the area. Supplemental revegetatiot r will be. practiced where naciu-1 revegetation is insufficient. Table 1 summarizes target plant community compone its. 1 31 Jun -16-04 16:12 from -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 T-485 P. 0-T F -6T5 Table 1. Target Plant Community Components Plant Zone SJ:,ecies Planting Methods* Emergent Pc idweed Rooted cuttings in shallow water Sri artweed Rooted cuttings in shallow water Shoreline Willow Pole cuttings placed in moist fringe areas Cc-tonwood Pole cuttings in moist fringe areas Valley Oak Acoms planted in upland fringes Kick Walnut Nuts or rooted cuttings Wi 1 Rose Rooted cuttings In upland fringes Ne-Alegrass Seeding uplands after weed control Sa tgrass Plugs in moist fringe areas Marginal Zones Tui ;s Plugs/rhizomes in wet areas Bu rush Plugs/rhizomes in wet areas Willows Cuttings in wet zones *Note: Many of these I.:lants are expected to become established in the habitat- creation zones through natural recruit nent. Part of the revegetation specialist's job will be to assess recryitment success an. I determine the need for plant augmentation (through planting seeds or emplacing cuttings): Item 2 Wetlands — About 2 acres :)f the site consists of wetlands. According to the Jurisdictional Wetland Delineation cetti led by MRCS in 1997, the wetlands are all seasonal wetlands occupying swales and slig it depressions. Impacts will be primarily confined to prior - converted croplands, as classified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Wetlands found on the sits: are associated with the bottoms of broad swales or hanging channels or associated wit: riparian corridors along the active channel of Little Chico Creek and several other in..iscd drainages. Incised Channels of Little i"_bico Creek and Associated Wetlands - The Channels and side slopes of the creek sul: port some wetland communities. Side slopes of the creek are predominantly vegetated -with shrubby willows and cottonwoods (Salix sp. and Populus fremontii). Levees suppor a weedy community dominated by Mentha pelugium, Rumex crispus, Epilobium sp., Co tvolvulus arvensis, Centaurea solstitialis, Brassica campestris, and Xanthium sp. The cre. k will not be disturbed by mining activities. 2 32 I P 1 Jun -16-04 16:12 I-= I " From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION TO1-530-1451 T-495 'P.08/20 F-875 Special -Status Species - Me Ord Ferry Quad of the Natural Diversity Data Base was examined for the present of species of concern on the projects site or in the near - vicinity. This database i:• maintained by the California Department of Fish and Game o provide up-to-date inforn i ation on the location of sightings of special -status plant and animal species. There art. 39 listings of occurrences of species of concern on this.quad No species of concern wi. -e found in surveys on the project site or witliin a one -mile radius of the site. The species listed on the Ord Ferry Quad, their legal status, and an analysis of the probability for occurrence on the project site are shown in the following table. S eeia.i-Status Species on the Proiect Site Vicinity Species Yellow -Billed Cucko,.! Coccyzus americamis Occidentalis Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Swainson's Hawk Buteo Swainsoni California Hibiscus Hibiscus lasiocarpus Legal Status State: Endangered State: Threatened State: Threatened Federal: Category 3B Appropriate Habitat o» Projects Site? No No Yes No The yellow -billed cuckoo equires large areas (50 acres or more) of riparian forest its habitat. The oaks at the project site occur in small patches (the largest grove is 2.5 acre.), too small to provide habit;it for the cuckoo. The bank swallow builds nests in vertical banks of sandy -textured soil near streams; the project site does not have :hese conditions. The California hibiscus gr ,ws on wet riverbanks and organic soils on low peat islands along sloughs. The species has been noted approximately three quarters of a mile west c -f the project site in an oxbow. The wetlands on the project site do not provide apropriatc habitat for California hibis.:us. Swainson's hawks nest in !arge trees in oak savannas, oak riparian gallery forests, or . homestead/urban canopies The hawks require suitable adjacent foraging areas such as croplands or grain fields supporting rodent populations. The project site meets the requirements for Swainsor: 's hawk foraging habitat, but surveys in the summer of 1994 and 1995 did not find then- utilizing the area for nesting or for foraging. Nesting sites have been noted along the -iacramento River in the riparian gallery forest over a mile Brom the project site. 3 33 Jun -16-04 16:11 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION T01-530-1451 T-405 ..09/20 F-OT5 A cultural resources datt )ase was examined for the presence of cultural resources and a ' cultural resources survey was conducted.. No cultural resources have been identified on the site. Because the -sit,.. has been extensively disturbed by agricultural activities, the presence of any undiscoi•ered cultural resources is very unlikely. ' H Item 3 The site will become a u: waged wildlife habitat area, specifically managed as over- wintering ponds for watt.. -fowl and associated aquatic and wetland fauna. The intent o' the reclamation efforts w, ll be to maximize waterfowl nesting and foraging habitat, minimizing interference rom human transgression, and provide habitat -supplementing ' wetlands lost in the Cent, al valley to other types of land conversion. As shown on Exhibit 2, t. le mining operation will be reclaimed to a groundwater rechw•ge lake with shallower area:; on the lake margins. These shallow "wetland" areas will be established as habitat for -Naterfowl and associated biota to complement the deeper laky areas as wildlife habitat. ' The wetland elevations v-11 be established to provide shallow water with emergent vegetation during most A-4 seasons. During dry seasons, part or all of the wetland areas may become much dryer ihan during the wet seasons. This variation in water levels will simulate the seasonal vari ition typical of natural shallow wetlands. Since groundwater ' levels will determine the evels of surface water in the lake as well as the wetlands, groundwater levels will b:; monitored during the mining process so that wetland ' elevations can be establis ted to provide for the hydrological variation described above. Exhibit 2 shows a plan vi..:w and cross sections after mining and reclamation operations are complete. Ite Exhibits 1 and 2 address the details of the mining and reclamation plan. Stockpiled top ' soil and subsoil will be u. -.;d for reclamation of the lake shoreline. Reclamadon'of the mining area cannot Comm-mce until sufficient area exists that is no longer being afi'ecte J by mining activities. Thi:: initial development period is expected to last about S years. - .After that, an average of tti ►out 600 lineal feet of lake perimeter will be reclaimed each year. Removal of vegetat an and soils will be done on an annual basis to limit disturbance of soils and vcgetation to that required for the subsequent year's mining activities. Initial disturbaaice will be limited to construction of the plant site and remove l ' of approximately 20 acres of topsoil and overburden to open the initial mining area (Initial Mining Phase 1 sh. awn on Exhibit 1). In subsequent years, each annual phase win consist of topsoil and subs, ail removed each year to open enough area to mine in the subsequent year (averagin ; about 6 acres per year). Mining will proceed from the ' northernmost portion of tlo- mine area to the south. The area available for replacement of soils will be relatively sm: ll (Only the edges of the lake will be available for soil respread). Less than 21 ac vs will be available for mspread along the margins of the lak When mining and reclanmp ion are completed, all equipment, buildings, fill and other 4 34 ' Jun -16-04 16:13 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION TO1-530-1451 T-405 P.10/20 F-6 T5 improvements will be re roved from the plant site area and the area will be graded to the ' original contours. Item 5 e 35 Equipment will be fuele, I with diesel or gasoline, both of which will be stored onsite i a above ground storage tar Ics. The tanks will be installed and operated in accordance with current regulations inalu, ing storm water control. and spill control regulations. These regulations ' require secondary containment and prevention of contamination of surface water and soils. Training., inspections, record keeping of training and inspections, maintenance, and clean v ') procedures will all be developed and implemented in accordance with Storm Water Pollution Prevention (SWPPP) and Spill Prevention Countermeasure and Cor 7o1(SPCC) plan requirements. All of the products generated at this facility will be sold r r used in reclamation, so no mine wastes will be generated. Item 6 Topsoil and subsoil will l: a removed from the mine area and respread directly on ' reclaimed areas, stockpiled on site in the location shown on Exhibit 1 or will be sold or used to supplement plant . rrowth materials on other areas of the M&T Chico Ranch, In most cases, topsoil stoclq ,iling will not be necessary since topsoil can be directly respread ' from areas where it is bei ag removed for mining. Stockpiles will be minimally . compacted in order to preserve aggregate structure and allow gas exchange between the atmosphere and microorgiuusms in the soil. They will have Dat tops, in order to ' minimi�p erosion from th.= surface. To further minimize erosion and discourage weed growth, any stockpile than will be unused over a winter will be seeded with grass species for erosion control. They will be kept free of weeds by the same methods used for area:; to be revegetated. Stockpiled, _ top soil and suhsoil will be used for reclamation of the lake shoreline. Dong term stockpile side slopes will be 2:1 or less to discourage nesting by swallows, As shown on Exhibit 2, soil., id overburden will removed in an area up to 30 feet wide aloe Lg ' the edges of the mining arca. This, plus backfilling with excess overburden and fines from the plant site will fo, :n shallow wetland habitat along the margins of the lake. Soi: will be respread on this ar-s to enhance establishment of plants. Removal of vegetation . ' and soils will be done on .,n annual basis to limit disturbance of soils and vegetation to that required for the subse:luent year's mining activities. Utial disturbance will be limited to removal of app aximately 20 acres of topsoil and overburden to open the inti D ' mining area QWtial Minn.; Phase 1 shown on Exlu'bit 1). In subsequent years, each annual phase will consist c: f topsoil and subsoil removed each year to open enough area to mine in the subsequent -.,ear (averaging about 6 acres per year). When roads are reclaimed, those areas wil be cross ripped or disked before topsoil and subsoil are ' respread. The area availat-le for replacement of soils will be relatively small (Only the edges of the lake will be a•.-ailable for soil respread)_ Less than 21 acres will be availabl.; for respread along the mar;;ins of the lake. e 35 ' Jun -16-04 16:13 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 T-485 P.11/20 F -6T5 Topsoil will be spread o t surfaces to be revegetated as soon as possible, while some aggregate structure surv, ves and soil microorganisms are still alive. The objective wil: be to place 6 —12 inched of topsoil on all areas to be revegetated. The soils of the site are ; tallow and young and will be handled as functional units rather than by strict horizon de:, ignations. If needed for reclamation; the surface 12 inches of soil will be removed, do: ignated as the A horizon, and stockpiled and replaced as a unit; the remaining subsoil will be treated as a subsoil unit (the B/C horizons). The intent o•.' this guideline is to prese,ve soil function. The characteristics of these horizons have impacts on soil function and plant response. The A horizon (surface layer) is often enriched with plant micrr-autrients and organic matter. The lower horizons (B/C); whi.;h make up the subsoil, hav .: different textures, chemical compositions, and may be impoverished or contain .:oncentrations of nutrients and other ions unsuitable for plant growth. The B/C horizoa, will be treated as a separate unit and not placed on the surface of reclaimed areas. In gc. ieraI, the following protocol will be used when soil is salvagtd for reclamation: • The ul,per 12 inches of soil (A horizon) will be removed and stockpiled separately. • The stll)soil (B/C) horizons will not be further separated. They will Vie stockp pled separately from the A horizon. • Durinr re -emplacement of soils, the B/C horizons willbe emplaced first an•i the A horizon will be placed on the surface. This plan incorporates tiv: intent of the SMARA guidelines to maintain soil function through adequate design; end reclamation planning. Compaction caused by heavy equipment can be a problem in reclaimed soils. To decrease the effects of cm tpaction of soils to be used iia reclamation: . • Heavy :equipment traffic will be kept to a minimum and the soil will l)e ripped s it is re -emplaced. reclamation has bee: i completed these soils will be managed iques to facilitate_lor_a-term habitat management obieetiven/ Its The intent of the reclamati.)n effort will be to create waterfowl nesting and foraging habitat to supplement wetl,�nd resources in the region, many of which have been lost dut- to conversion to agricultmis and other land conversions. An oak, willow and cottonwood overstory with a native gn ;s and sedge understory is the desired end product. This would be similar to habitat that existed in this area prior to settlement and development of agriculture. Narrow strips of this type of riparian vegetation still exist along small drainages in the area. 6 36 Jun -16-04 16:13 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 T-405 P.12/20 F -M The area to be mined is Li nleveled and unirrigated and includes a small gravel pit that has been mined by the Lando .vner for many years. Wildlife habitat in this area is minimal gut will be significantly imp oved in implementing the reclamation plan. The vegetative cover on the mining am. is pioneer and weedy species (mustards, annual nonnative grasses, dock, and other uderal species) typical of dry land agricultural areas that are frequently left fallow. A.. shown in the attached Exhibit 2, shallow wdtlands will be _ established along the ma. gins of the lake by removing overburden and aggregate to just below the water level. l�l,jtive vegetation will be established on reclaimed areas by a combination of natural rf. vegetation and plantings. Topsoil will be respread on the margins of the lake and i. i the shallow wetland areas to enhance the establishment and growth of native vegetati , m. Native vegetation recruitment (windblown seed, animal transport, etc.) will occur over much of the area. Supplemental revegetation will be practiced where natural r..vegetation is insufficient. Because of the numerous natural seed sources present, exc :Hent seedbed formed by the overburden and resprcad topsoil ' and the sufficient water present in the shallow wetlands, revegetation success should bc: very good. Baldwin will etain an expert in wildlife habitat reclamation to implement the revegetation plan and mo nitor success. Baldwin will obtain the approval of the Butte County Planning Divisioy for the revegetation specialist selected before commencement of mining. Augmented seedings and Plantings will be implemented on a case by case basis, ' depending on the success :)f native plant recruitment. Annual reports will be submitted to the Butte County Plannin; : Division describing the success of revegetation efforts and recommendations to enha ice that success in the next year. Baldwin will identify specific ' areas for supplemental reg. egetation using data collected and recommendations by the revegetation specialist in 1 he annual reclamation and revegetation report. 37 t Several areas on the M&T Ranch retain native riparian plant communities typical of the Sacramento Valley. Mixt i gallery forests of valley oaks, walnuts, cottonwoods, willows, and understory shrubs (bui tonbush, elderberry, poison oak, etc.) downstream of the min; site and in areas along sloe tghs of the Sacramento River within a couple of miles of the mine site will serve as suis able sources of seeds and planting. Baldwin will also preserve a stand of valley oaks lom *d in the northeastern corner of the site. This stand of trees Will be fenced and clearly narked to ensure that it is not disturbed during mining activities. The revegetatic: s specialist whom Baldwin proposes to contract with has considerable experience n establishing shallow wetland and other native plant communities and will appl y that experience to implement the revegetation plan and to monitor it to ensure succe.. s. The margins of the lake (emergent and marginal zones) will be rcvegetated with shallo .v wetland species. Upland fringes will be revegetated with appropriate riparian specie:.;. Plant species to be established axe shown in the attached Table 1. Other desirable r,.itive plants available oit site and in reference areas nearby wi it also be acceptable. The species to be used to c -este the vegetation communities will be appropriate riparian or grassland species found an the site or nearby. Each community to be created will be composed of an array of pa ncipal species as dominant vegetation with an understory of 37 t ' Jun -16-04 16:14 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION _ ^ TO1-530-1451 T-405 P.13/20 F -8T5 grasses and/or (orbs. Thi; principal species and understory species will increase plant diversity within each ass:►ciation. LAYOUT OF PLAN rS The plant association; will be Iaid out by a revegetation specialist,luing stakes or flags. Within each c, mmuruty, seed mixes will be broadcast, drilled, or hydro mulched. Plants to h.: installed by other methods — trees, shrubs, etc., will be laid out to irregular grouping:; by the revegetation specialist, using color -coded flags. PLANT MATERIAI 3 SOURCES Most species will be i propagated from materials originatingthe on property. Good resources for site-spe...ific plant stocks exist on or very near the proposed minia,g sit tAny container plants will be contract -grown or raised on the ranch. If it is necessai y to increase supplies o I• site-specific genotypes, increase plots will be established on the ranch property, i;pecies to be used for revegetation will be planted in labeled ' rows. RipeniAg seed ;an be easily monitored and collected from the increase plots, and plants to be livid d vegetatively can be increased there. The revegetatioa specialist will determ! ae the necessity for, and location of, contract -grown planting stock off-site to suppl: went yields from increase plots. For gopher control, tt'n! perimeters of increase plots will be fenced below gromad to :t 4epth of three feet wia x one-half inch hardware cloth. To keep out deet, the perimeter will be fenced above s- round with eight -foot high mesh fence, or with electric fence or double fencing. A fla ; hing of smooth metal may be required for the first two feet above the ground for t. ther.rodent control. ' Any increase plots wi: l be irrigated by drip or sprinkler irrigation and managed for weed control as appro >riate and located in the vicinity of the proposed mining area. Increase plots may be ztablished at the start of mining operations. Various test'plots may be incorporated v. ithin the increase plots for testing different methods of Planting, soil amendm, its, etc. ' STI: E PREPARATIOI•. Site preparation will ci insist of removing equipment, controlling weeds before Planting, scarifying so 1, soil amendment and topsoiling. WEED SEED -BANK -'ON'TROL Weed competition witl revegetation plantings will be reduced through attempts to exhaust the weed seed- bank. During the 12 months preceding planting of the native species, all areas to be •evegetated other than steep slopes will be disked whenever 8 - 38 ' Jun -16-04 16:14 From—KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 101-530-1451 T-495 'P.14/20— F 8T5 1 seed is beginning to brm, so that seed does not ripen. Areas too steep to disk will be �. snowed whenever wt..sk seed -set begins. SOIL AMENDMEN CS No large-scale soil aa.iendment is contemplated at this time. " INSTALLATION, I I MING, AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANTINGS Siter aratio p ep n will Pe completed prior to plant installation. Plants will be installed ' according to method,. suitable for reclamation. If necessary, plants and spot -seeded seeds will be hand -irrigated immediately following installation. Seed mixes will be bi :)adcast, hydroseeded, or (on slopes flatter than 30 percent) drilled. Collars and t-zeens will be used for spot seeding and for installing individual plants, as necessary. Cottonwood pole cuttings will be installed in pre-augered hoes and protected from bu )wsing by use of rigid seedling protection tubes. Short cuttings of willow will be Inst Bled in pre -angered holes if the soil is dry. Plantings will be installed according to a schedule developed to meet seasonal constraints and mitig;. cion requirements. As those variables become known, a timeline schedule wil be developed and provided to Butte County. General guidelines are providt.-d below. geed mixes for all P11111t associations will probably be sown during fall months. Collar and screen plav ting, pole cuttings and short cuttings will be installed within two years of seeding. Collar -and -screen plantings of tubo -grown plants, divisions aad spot seed will be plan ed when soil moisture conditions are suitable for planting. Pole cuttings and shor : cuttings will be installed during winter while the plants arc dormant, generally bet ween December 15 and February 1. Revegetation areas wi I I be maintained for five years after the date of installation; however, it is expecte i that most remedial work will be accomplished within the firA ' three years. The prog am will include irrigation, weed control, plant protection, thinning of spot -seeder I plants, replanting, and debris removal, as necessary. IRRIGATION If necessary, riparian },lantings will be watered by drip, flooding, or sprinkler metho i during the three years j bllowing installation. Water will be applied deeply enough to moisten the soil to a d pth of four feet (as tested with a soil auger or tensiometer). a; id will be. applied where, or four inches of soil at the surface becomes dry. Other plantings may be water ed during their establishment phases, if needed. Plants of the wetland complexes wi II be at or below groundwater levels and should not need irrigation. 9 39 Jun -16-04 16:14 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 T-485 P.15/20. F-875 e ' WEED CONTROL Weeds will be contraI led in order to reduce competition for available nutrients, moisture, and sunligli :. Weeds will be hand -pulled or cutbelow ground level. Judicious application Aherbicides will be used where necessary and possible. PLANT PROTECTI('-N PIant protection devil !s (screens forrotection from browsing P s ng animals and trisects) will be kept f mcdomn ' and secure during the entire establishment period. Screens become ' that dislodges will be replaced. Screens will not be permitted to constrict plant growth. Screen:- will be opened at the top when the plant inside is within thres inches of the top of tli.; screen; the sides will be opened when branches approach th; sides. THINNING AND RF PLANTING Multiple seedlings, in :L collar and screen will be thinned by a revegetation specialise. Survival rates of >90 .io in the first three years will not require replanting. If surviv.tl rate drops below 90%, a replanting will be undertaken. The revegetation specialist/maintenancr contractor will determine the reason for the loss of the plant, if possible, and use diffi. rent species from the site or different planting methods, as appropriate, to reined.,, the problem. DEBRIS REMOVAL All work areas will bG kept clean and orderly throughout the establishment period. All trash and non-orgr nic debris will be removed and disposed the M & T of on Ranch. Collars, scree s, and wires will be removed and disposed of when they are no longer necessary. Pot plants that spread by rhizomes, collars may'need to be remov:d earlier than for other E:)ecies. Item Native vegetation recruitment (windblown seed, animal transport, etc.) will occur over . much of the area. Supplemental revegetation will be practiced where natural revegetation is insufficient. The margii 4 of the lake (emergent and marginal zones) will be revegetated with shallow ,rietland species. Upland fringes will be revegetated with appropriate riparian specie.-,. Plant species to be established arc shown in the attached Table 1. Other desirable r itive plants available on site and in reference areas nearby wi II also be acceptable. , ... 10 r 40 a 1 1 1 1 1 Jun -16-04 16:15 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 T-495 P.16/20 F -6T5 Table 1. Target Plant Community Components Plant Zone SSI ecies Planting Methods* ' Emergent Pc ndweed Rooted cuttings in shallow water Sroartweed Rooted cuttings in shallow water Shoreline Willow Pole cuttings placed in moist fringe arn3as Cr.: ttonwood Pole cuttings in moist fringe areas Valley Oak Acoms planted in upland fringes 81. ick Walnut Nuts or rooted cuttings W Id Rose Rooted cuttings in upland fringes Ncediegrass Seeding uplands after weed control S,,:.Itgrass Plugs in moist fringe areas Marginal Zones Tu es Plugs/rhizomes in wet areas Bi. (rush Plugs/rhizomes in wet areas W. lows Cuttings in wet zones *Note: Many of these plants are expected to become established in the habitat creation zones through natural recrui ment. Part of the revegetation specialists job will: be to assess recruitment success ar d determine the need for plant augmentation (through planting seeds or emplacing cuttings). Several areas on the Mit' i' Ranch retain native riparian plant communities typical of the: Sacramento Valley. Mix, d gallery forests of valley oaks, walnuts, cottonwoods, willows, and understory shrubs (buttonbush, elderberry, etc.) downstream of the mine site and in areas along sloughs of th:i Sacramento River within a couple of miles of the mine site will serve as sources of st-eds and planting stock for the revegetation effort. Item #9 The revegetation scientist that Baldwin proposes to rcWu for this project has iderable eriiiee t:lablidag wetland and other native vegetation and will 2ppty 7n �"t_experience to set up r �propriate reference areas. Performance standards for -the shallow wetlands andTak� perimeter -will -be -evaluated as on the effectiveness of the vegetation for wildlife hal -itat by comparing appropriate measures of cover, density acid species richness of the reg. [aimed lands to similar parameters on reference areas. Methods for monitoring a -ad assessment will be based on guidelines provided in the Department of Conservation's recently published manual on the rehabilitation process f -)r disturbed lands (Newton., ad Claassen, 2003). . I1 41 Jun -16-04 16:15 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION TO1-530-1451 T-495 P-IT/20 F -8T5 Item #10 All excavated material: except some of the overburden and fines from the aggre;atc processing plant will b : sold or otherwise used off site. -The fines and some of the overburden will be used to construct a nesting island and to augment construction of'the shallow wetlands along he perimeter of the lake. As indicated in the slope stability sr udy done for the permit appl cation, underwater slopes, at 3:1 or less, will be stable and there will be no significant ch age of topography above the water level. I- 12 42 As shown in the attached Exhibit 2, shallow wetlands will be established along the ' margins of the lake by P. moving overburden and aggregates to just below the water level. Excess overburden, not :: old or used off site, will be used to augment construction of this shallow water habitat. 8 Its and clays removed during the processing of aggregates wi li also be used to augment Anstruction of these shallow wetlands. This shallow wetland elevation will initially bi.: determined from water level measurements taken in on-site monitoring wells. The i :mainder of the lake will be to the depth of aggregate removal, approximately 70 feet. 1 his will result in a combination of shallow and deep water habitat for the variety of Nildlife species that are expected to inhabit this site during mining and after recla= tion. The nesting island will be constructed using excess overburden and silts and :lays removed from the aggregate in the processing plant. A a estimated 2.5 million cul: is yards (8 feet thick over 193 acres) of overburden materials and 500,000 cubic yards :)f fines will be available to construct the nesting island and u. augment construction of : he shallow wetland along the edges of the lake. Al -acre nesting island consttucte l entirely of fill in the deepest part of the lake would require L only about 500,000 cubit- yards of material so sufficient excess overburden and fines a -e available for the reclama ion plan: If demand for excess overburden is less than supply ; ' additional nesting island,: or other shallow areas can be constructed in the reclaimed lake. The reclamation plan me!, is attached as Exhibit 2. No signifioamt change to existing topography is proposed r ccept that the mined area will become a lake, with a water elevation equal to the loc:il water table. Therefore, there will be no significant . reclamation topography r. hanges to monitor, except the margins of the lake where shallow wetland habitat x.411 be established as shown on Exhibit 2. The topographic contours presented on Ex iibits 1 and 2 were obtained from an August 22,1994 aerial ' flight and September 14, t994 map prepared by Aerial Data, Inc. of Yuba City. Item 11 Surface mining and recta. nation activities will be conducted to protect on site and downstream beneficial us z of water. As indicted in the Environmental Impact Report (BIR) for this project, no adverse effects to hydrological resources are anticipated from . - this project, including nu igation requirements. Mitigation requirements of the fills will be complied with. These include controlling runoff fiom fueling areas and the process* ag plant in accordance with:: torn water permits and SPCC plans, construction of a levee/weir/bypass channe system for Little Chico Creek, groundwater monitoring, I- 12 42 t. Jun -18-04 18:15 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION TO1-530-1451 T-485 P.18/20 F -8T5 setbacks from Little Chi, o Creek, and contributing to improvements in floodwater ' drainage systems in the area. All of these mitigation requirements are proposed to be conditions to the project 13 11 43 The fueling and equipmL:at servicing will be done in accordance with storm water coni rot ' requirements of the Regi >nal Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and SPCC requirements. These inc I ude development and implementation of a Storm Water ' Pollution Prevention Pla ► (SWPPP), installation of secondary containment for tanks, separation of fuel storag<• areas from surface and ground water, training, inspections and other features required b •, these plans. Pit water quality will be :frotected as required by Mitigation Measures 4.4-3a, 3b, 3c, 3 d and 3e of the EIR, all of vhich are proposed as conditions to the permit. Runoff from the processing plant will be 1.revented from flowing to the pit by on site grading and construction of ponds. Tae levee/weir/bypass channel will protect the water in the lak. s from flood water entry u: - to the 10 year event. All drainage ditches along the east sida of the pit and along the sow hem boundary will be improved to carry the 10 year recurrern;e interval peak flow. Grad ng along the west edge of the pit will be improved to minir i m the entry of a flood water s from the west. The EIR concludes that the chances of significant groundwater contamination from this project or from entry of offsite pollutants is almost none-Astent. Nevertheless, a groundwater monitoring system will 13e developed and implemen .ed to ensure that groundwater quality is not degraded as a result ofthis mining and reclan, ation plan. Details ofthe groundwater monitoring plan are provided in Mitigation Iv easure 4.4-3c. Some permit conditions :: re aimed at controlling flooding. Mitigation Measures 4.4-5 and 4.46 require a 100 f et wide setback from Little Chico Creek and engineering designed slopes in that b,. ffer area. Mitigation Measure 4.4-7a requires the removal of an existing levee on the east side of Little Chico Creek and the construction of setback levees at the same elevate in with the installation of larger culverts to return overflows +o the creek. Mitigation ML assure 4.4-7b requires the improvement of the low water crossing on River Road n -ar the gas well site. All of these features will be designed an d approved by the Butte C4 ,unty Public W6rks Department prior to construction of the processing plant area. Implementation of these I permit conditions as detailed in the mitigation measures described above, will enrare that this project complies with CCR 3706 to protect beneficial uses of water fn ui to control runoff and drainage. There will be no direct impacts on natural drainages like Little Chico Creek: No stream diversions are pmpostd. Erosion and sedimentatioa control will be in accordance with storm water discharge permit requirements. Ba].hwin Contracting Company will obtain coverage under a r general storm water const. >1 permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. (RWQCB) before initiatil g on site activities. The storm water permit will require the development and implem .;ntation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP i. By complying with the re:.luirements of the storm water pewit and SWPPP, Baldwin v►ill 13 11 43 ' Jun -16-04 16:16 From -KNIFE RIVER CORPORATION 701-530-1451 1-495 P.10/20 F-875 necessarily control rune Tto ensure that discharge of surface flows from the site meet storm water pollution G ,ntrol permit requirements and comply with erosion control and sediment control regnin:ments of CCR 3503, 3706 and 3710. ' Two basic elements of tiiccessful sediment and erosion control are to minimize the ar-m disturbed at any one tho and to control runoff from disturbed areas to minimize runo rT _ containing sediment frog a leaving the mine site. Removal of vegetation and overburdmi will be done on an annu 1 basis to limit disturbance of soils and vegetation to that ' required for the subsequa sot year's mining activities. The mining area will be at a lowtx elevation than the surroi.inding areas which will ensure that most on site runoff mnain3 on site. This will minim ize contribution of sediment to nearby streams. As indicated m the excavation stability : study, the 3:1 underwater slopes will be stable. There will be no waste rock or overburden stockpiles other than those at the plant site. Reclaimed shun: lines will be promptly in, ✓egetated to limit erosion of those areas. The area of shoreline available for reclamatimi will vary from year to year depending on mine production, but ' it is estimated to be about 600 feet of shoreline per year. As shown in reclamation cn,ss sections, Exhibit 2 (Det-, fled Section 2), the slopes along the margins of the lake will l: e gradual. A shallow weti and area, up to 50 feet wide, .will exist along the margins. The gradual slope, coupled with the relatively flat slopes throughout the mining area will limit the velocity of flows su0t that erosion will be limited In addition, areas will be revegetated promptly as i he dragline moves away from areas already mined, The geologic materials at this: site are generally quite permeable, which will also reduce thr volume ofrunoff from t1te mine area. Topsoil and subsoil stockpiles will be planted with erosion control grasses t,, prevent erosion and discourage weeds. They will not be mo ✓ed until redistributed, sold, :)r used to augment other soils on the M&T Ranch. Initial disturbance will b .: limited to construction of the plant site and removal of approximately 20 acres v f topsoil and overburden to open the initial mining area (Mining Phase 1 shown on Exhibit 1). Runoff from these disturbances initially will be controll-A utilizing Best Managem,: at Practice (BMP) temporary controls h1c straw bale dikes ar d silt fences as required by SWPPP. Long term control of erosion and sedimentation wW consist ofprompt and pr.,active stabilization of disturbed surfaces, through revegetation ' or surfacing (roads and p,Wdng areas for example) with erosion resistant materials like gravel or pavement. Act i ve mine areas with erosion potential will generally be limited to the margins of the mune ,area above the water line, the pad used by the dragline and access roads. These areas will be graded so that runoff is directed toward the mining area. The slopes along the margins of the lake will be monitored after they are regraded to determine if stabilization for erosion prevention and sediment control is necessary. 11: j revegetation specialist cr :itracted by Baldwin and approved by the Butte County Planning Division, will r. port on the status of the reclaimed areas each year and recommend action to be j rken to enhance native vegetation growth and prevent erosior,, if such actions are neces i y. Roads will be surfaced with gravel or paved to limit wins and water erosion. Unvcgptated areas on the active mine site will also be routinely sprayed with water to cm: trol wind erosion during dry periods. Traffic speeds will be controlled to limit dust g. netated by traffic. Traffic speed limitations are generally included as a condition in Butte Cotmty air quality control permits. 14 44