5.4. PCSR 05-13-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 Background Information The Property is currently zoned agricultural and land use is idle with portions of the property containing wetlands. This is the first submittal from the property owner to the City of Elk River in an effort to have the Property rezoned and under a Conditional Use Permit for mining of aggregate and peat resources: • Environmental Assessment Worksheet (Draft), J & B Mining, Elk River, Minnesota, prepazed by Liesch Associates, Inc., dated May 2004. • Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, J & B Mining, Elk River, Minnesota, prepazed by Liesch Associates, Inc., dated May 2004. • Environmental Spill Plan, J & B Mining, Elk River, Minnesota, prepared by Liesch Associates, Inc., dated May 2004. • Plan Sheet 1 of 3 -Existing Conditions, Plan Sheet 2 of 3 -Mining Cmading Plan, Pian Sheet 3 of 3 Drainage and Restoration Plan, J & B Mining, Elk River, Minnesota, prepared by Liesch Associates, Inc., dated May 2004. Description of Proieet J & B Mining is proposing to mine approximately 41 acres of the 60 acre property with most of the mining to occur on the 40 acre pazcel as shown on the mining and grading plan (Refer to Plan Sheet 2 of 3). Approximately 1,750,000 cubic yards of material will be removed as part of the proposed minim activities on the site. inin¢ of the property is proposed to connect with Phase 4 of the Schmidt Gravel Mine to the west at the north end of the 40 acre parcel. Shallow mining is also proposed within the wetland areas B, E and a portion of area A to obtain peat resources in these areas. The resulting restoration of these azeas will involve the transformation of type 2 wetlands invaded by Reed Canary Grass into deeper water type 4 and 5 wetlands. A portion of wetland A on the 20 acre pazcel will not be mined and restoration of this area will consist of vegetation restoration in an effort to remove the existing reed canary grass and plant native species in this area. The deeper excavations within the mining area as shown on the mining and grading plan will be restored as deeper water fisheries habitat with assistance proposed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources -Urban Fisheries Program. Test pits have been completed in the area of the proposed mining and the test pits indicate that soils in that area consist of poorly graded sand with silt and gravel and heroic peat. Water levels were not measured at the time of test pits however, one area was left open to observe water levels and it would appear that groundwater exists an approximate elevation of 945. On May 25'~ and 26'~ soil baring were completed at locations throughout the proposed mining azea and soils observed in the test pits consisted primarily of poorly graded sand with silt and gravel with a few areas of lean clay or clayey sand encountered. No soil borings were completed at this time to further identify depth of peat resources in the proposed mining area. In conjunction with the soil borings at the site, three monitoring wells were installed on the property to better define the local water table elevation in the vicinity of the property. Docume~.tion of the soil borings, monitoring wells and recorded ground water observations to date for the proposed mining area. and the Schmidt Phase 4 mining area are included with the submittal package. Additional ground water observations will be presented at the