Tab I GREEN Busti RESOURCES, INC*
,rk J.Zdunczyk, CPG 1 Spruce Run
Geologist East Greenbush, NY 12061
Tel/Fax 518/479-0329
Application with Modification
and Permit Transfer
for
Permit to Mine
Mined Land Use Plan
Dream Lake Sand and Gravel
Prepared for
Don Fane
TI-oy, New York
July 1994
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Introductiou
This document contains a report modification and a TransferApplication forPernn t
to Mine for Dream Lake Sand and Gravel.
The report summarizes the operational, mining and reclamation plans for the site.
As such, it represents a Mined Land Use Plan for the operation.
The project property is located in the Town of Queensbury, Warren County,
New York.
The project property has a mining history dating back to the mid 1960's. Robert
Ellsworth had been the owner and operator of the site since that time. In 1994, Dream Lake
Sand and Gravel acquired the site during an estate settlement of Robert Ellsworth.
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Under State regulations, a transfer of ownership or change in operator of a mine site
requires the submittal of a transfer application with all necessary changes made to the
appropriate application and informational forms.
In addition, Dream Lake Sand and Gravel is modifying the permit to include all the
remaining mineable acreage considered as future excavation.
Sand and gravel'is not prohibited at the site, The Town of Queensbury tax roll has
denoted the site as commercial sand and gravel bed.
Mine Plan
'1 Introduction
Location of Mine
The Dream Lake Road Mine is located in the Town of Queensbury, Warren County, New York.
More precisely, the site is 3 3/4 miles from exit 20 of 1-87, by way of U.S. 9, N.Y. State Route 1.49,
Warren County Route 7, and Dream Lake Road.
Adjacent Land Use Features
The mine site is located in a relatively unpopulated area. There are-residents located on Dream Lake
Road. Dream Lake is a small lake located south of the site and north of the site is generally farm. land.
The remaining areas surrounding the site are wooded with deciduous and coniferous trees.
Existing Condition of the Land
Mining History and Lana Use
Mining on the property dates to the early 1960's. Sand and gravel have been excavated from the
property intermittently since that time.
Topography
ounded by lake sands. This generally is 2 sinuous ridge
The mine site is mapped as an esker surr
with elevations of approximately 480 feet to approximately 320 feet. The excavated area is generally
flat with almost vertical faces in two lifts.
Groundwater and Drainage
The groundwater elevation across the site is approximately 300+/-feet.above.mean sea level (MSL) as
indicated by the water elevation of Dream Lake Brook in the vicinity of the site.
Area drainage is generally in a North to South direction. Surface runoff generally flows into the mine
and eventually'percolates into the orous sand and gravel. Because of the high faces of the mine, no
p
runoff flows into the Dream Lake Brook.
Setbacks
The Town of Queensbury setback of at least 50 feet will be maintained around the property lines of the
site. This is 25 feet additional to the DEC setback of 25 feet. However; all DEC recommended slopes
and grading requirement,will be followed. Therefore, the outer perimeter of the mine floor will remain
a distance of at least 1.5 times the height of the pit face from the edges of the setbacks. Active face slopes
will grade toward the excavation areas within the property.
Roadways
The Mine Plan map shows the primary haul road that will be used for access to the property. All
roads will be built upon the sand and gravel where drainage is good. To minimize dust and erosion, water
will be sprayed on the roads as needed. Loaded trucks will exit the site using the access to Dream Lake
^ Road.
Disposal of waste materials
It is not expected that significant amounts of waste will be generated at the site. However, waste
material generated by equipment operators will be collected at the end of each day and removed from
the site.
Pollution Control and Prevention of Environmental Damage
Air Impacts
Air quality at the site will be affected to some extent by the generation of dust during operations.
Normal sources of dust in the site will include loading of haul trucks and vehicular traffic. However, these
sources create large particles which settle quickly and are typically not transported beyond the site
site activity quickly out of the air and is trapped by surrounding
boundary. Any dust generated from
vegetation. It does not reach potential receptors due to the distance of travel and capture.
minimum by spraying water on haul roads as needed. Sand and gravel
Dust will be kept to a
typically contains an inherent moisture content of 47o to 7%. Experience has demonstrated that this
inherent moisture content helps minimize the amount of dust generated through excavation and loading
of bank run material. In addition, the material will be washed, which will generally keep the surface
portion of stockpiles moist.
Noise Impacts
Noise generated from mining activity originates from equipment removing material from active
faces and truck traffic transporting material off site, Noise will be mitigated by the following measures:
* the reining equipment is equipped with mafflers and other noise suppression devices, as
required by OSHA,
* existing vegetation and topographic barriers as well as distance to receptors helps minimize
noise impacts
Groundwater Impacts
Therewill beno impact to the groundwater as a result of excavation of the sand and gravel. Mining
will remain at least five feet above the water table, thereby eliminating any potential contamination
through erosion or siltation.
Vegetation and Wildlife
Mining operation at the site will result in the temporary loss of vegetation and wildlife habitat.
However, impacts will be minimized by employing the following measures:
* inimize the amount of disturbed area at any given
mining will be conducted in phases so as to m
time-
* stripping of vegetation will be limited to the area needed to accommodate approximately one
year's mining.
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Visual Impacts
Existing topography and vegetation screen the site from view. There are no sensitive receptors
close to the site that would be visually impacted. The rural nature of the surrounding area minimizes the
need for significant visual mitigation measures.
Reclamation Plan
Land Use Objectives
Upon cessation of mining, the site smooth graded in such a manner as to allow for the following
land uses: open space, agriculture Or pastureland.
Reclamation Method
s
Grading and Slope'Ireatment
The enclosed Reclamation Plan Maps illustrates the proposed reclamation contours for the site.
As illustrated, the mine faces will be smooth graded to achieve a final slope of no greater than 1 vertical
to1,-!&rizontal. The final floor elevation will be approximately 325- 1- feet above MSL,
Disposal of Material
All equipment will be removed from the affected areas to be reclaimed. Any stockpiles that may
have been developed will be sold and removed or regraded over the site. Overburden stockpiles
developed as a result of stripping will be regraded over the site and prepared for revegetation.
Haulageway
The main access road illustrated on the Mine Plan map will remain following the cessation of
mining to continue to provide access to the property. All internal haulageways will be graded to blend
with the remainder of the site and revegetated.
Settling Ponds
Settling ponds will be allowed to fill with fines from the operation and the area will be smooth
graded.
r� Drainage
At the completion of mining and reclamation; all drainage will be directed to the center of the
area as illustrated on the Reclamation Plan map. The floor of the site will be graded in such a manner
as to prevent water from ponding across the site.
Revegetation
All affected areas except the main access road will be graded and covered with available
stockpiled overburden.
The Soil Conservation Service recommends the following seeding and fertilizing program for
reclamation of sand and gravel operations:
Seeding Mixture:
Graded
Face Slopes and Final Floor:
Creeping Red Fescue 20 lbs/ac
Tall Fescue 20 lbs/ac
Red Top 2 lbs/ac
Birdsfoot Trefoil 8 lbs/ac
Steep Slopes:
Crownvetch 15 lbs/ac
Birdsfoot Trefoil 8 lbs/ac
Creeping Red Fescue 20 lbs/ac
Red Top 2 lbs/ac
Fertilizer:
A mixture of 10-20-20 at 300 lbs/acre or 5-10-10 at 600lbslac is recommended. Prior to seeding,
a test of soil pH will be conducted and fertilizer rates adjusted or lime added to the soils as necessary.
Trp arPaS to be reclaimed will be seeded during the first planting season following land preparation.
Schedule of Reclamation
Reclamation of the parcel will occur, as much as possible, concurrently with excavation activity.
Therefore, as the excavation area expands and faces reach their final extent and depth, reclarnatron will
be initiated by grading and redistribution of available retibuti�n° v`arlable overburden and seeded
with' zoposed seed mixture. As mine faces reach their final positions they will be graded and seeded
in the spring following completion of mining.
Final reclamation of all areas will be completed within two years of cessation of all mining activity.
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