Art Contractors Must Locate an Equipment Staging Area to Serve Three Construction Sites

USFS Decision Memo Regarding Long Valley Kore Drilling

— Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project Decision Memo —

DECISION MEMO
LONG VALLEY EXPLORATION DRILLING PROJECT
U.S. Wood SERVICE
INYO NATIONAL FOREST
MAMMOTH DISTRICT
MONO COUNTY, CA

Groundwork
The Inyo National Forest received a request from KORE Mining Ltd. (KORE) for approval of a Plan
of Operations for mineral exploration on National Forest land at its Long Valley Project area
(Project) (Figures ane-iii). Proposed activities within the Programme of Operations are for the exploration of
locatable minerals to be conducted upon Federal mining claims held by KORE.
An initial Plan of Operations was submitted in July 2020. The initial Plan of Operations was revised
based on analysis and comments received during project scoping, and many requirements were added
to minimize resource impacts. The determination is based upon evaluation of the revised Plan of
Operations (2021 Program of Operations).
The application was for mineral exploration only. At that place is no proposed mineral extraction (mining).
Mining is non being proposed or considered at this time. The purpose of a mineral exploration project
is to assess the potential for mineral concentration at a book that would be economically feasible to
produce and does not automatically lead to an actual mine. An application has not been submitted or
proposed for a mineral extraction projection and if that were to occur, that application would be
candy every bit a separate project.
The Project area has had previous exploration, in the 1990s, by a prior operator. Exploration
activities included route construction and drilling of hundreds of cores. The KORE 2021 Programme of
Operations is for boosted drilling on the periphery of the prior area of exploration. The 2021 Program
of Operations is of a one year elapsing for mining and support activities, and restoration of impacts.
The exploration activities include cadre drilling on 12 pads and the drove of stone samples from
each borehole for metallurgical testing and geological engineering cess.
Through the General Mining Constabulary of 1872, mining claimants take a right to locate and develop
mineral resource on any public lands open up to mineral entry. KORE Mining therefore has a legal
right to explore/develop and carry reasonably incident activities; the FS has the correct/obligation to
regulate such activities but not to endanger or materially interfere (xl CFR 1502.thirteen). The Forest
Service does have an obligation to ensure that "operations are conducted and then every bit, where viable, to
minimize adverse environmental impacts on National Woods surface resource" (36 CFR 228.8). The
compelling need for the Forest Service to take activeness is to comply with the legal requirements to
answer to the proponents reasonable Plan of Operations (36 CFR 228.4) for mineral exploration, and
prescribe measures to reasonably protect resources.

The Inyo National Wood state management plan (USDA Woods Service 2019) requires that mineral
exploration must be for public do good, and the project contributes toward the attainment of the
following desired status:
GEO-FW-DC 01. Mineral resources on National Wood System lands provide for public do good,
while minimizing agin environmental effects on other national wood resources from mineral
exploration, development, and extraction (USDA Forest Service, land management plan 2019, p. 67).

DECISION
I have decided to authorize the exploratory drilling, as described in the proposed Programme of Operations.
This decision approves mineral exploration, including footing-agonizing reclamation activities, for
up to one year. Postal service-exploration habitat restoration activities that do not involve grading or major
basis disturbance may proceed by 1 yr every bit needed for satisfactory reclamation. Activities
such as monitoring, seeding, and maintaining a fence to exclude livestock from the restoration areas
are in support of the mail-project habitat restoration. This decision incorporates the specific terms and
atmospheric condition summarized in Appendix A of this document; these have been incorporated into the Plan
of Operations.
Land disturbance resulting from this Project will total approximately 0.82 acres. Of that, roughly
0.43 acres would exist from the drill pads and 0.39 from the utilize of the temporary access roads.
Twelve drill pads, measuring 53 feet by 30 feet, will exist constructed and up to 3 core borings will be
drilled on each pad. The proposed drilling equipment will access the property across existing public
roads and will utilize temporary access roads from the public roads to the drilling pad locations to
minimize disturbance from route grading. Up to 1,700 feet (0.32 miles) of temporary access road will
be created by clearing of surface vegetation by hand cut or mowing with a small tractor. The
roads will not be graded or constructed beyond cutting or mowing vegetation.
Best management practice volition exist employed for drilling. Excess drilling mud will be collected while
drilling and transported off site to an advisable disposal facility. Afterwards drilling has ended, the drill
pads volition be reclaimed by relieving compaction, grading to approximate the original landforms, and
planting with a Woods Service approved native seed mix. A temporary fence will exist placed to prevent
livestock or other animals from eating or trampling growing seedlings, to facilitate successful habitat
improvement. Temporary access roads will be reclaimed using a spring-tooth harrow, or similar
device, to salve surface compaction and then seeded with the same canonical seed mix. Seeding volition
occur in the autumn of the yr to take advantage of seasonal rainfall. New vegetation shall exist monitored
past a qualified biologist until it is determined that success criteria accept been met. The minimum
monitoring time is 3 years. Any revegetation needs identified during that monitoring are also
covered under this decision.
All activities incidental to mining, including drilling, grading, and installation of erosion control
features, volition be completed within one year of the start of operations. Exploration on each pad
will exist agile for three to twelve days, with a day or two of mobilization between pads. Two pads
may be drilled at the same time. The number of days needed to consummate exploration activities could
therefore range from virtually 50 to 170 days, all within 12 consecutive months. At the terminate of the oneyear period, all equipment will accept been removed from the site and all activities in support of
exploration will exist complete. In order to minimize project effects, farther wildlife habitat
improvement may occur if mail-exploration monitoring shows a need for further revegetation.
This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement
(EIS) or an environmental cess (EA). The applicative category of deportment for the exploration
and support activities is identified in bureau procedures as:
36 CFR 220.6(due east)(8): Short-term (1 year or less) mineral, free energy, or geophysical investigations
and their incidental support activities that may require cantankerous-state travel past vehicles and
equipment, structure of less than ane mile of low standard road or use and minor repair of
existing roads.
This category of action(s) is applicative because this is a ane-twelvemonth Plan of Operations, including
reclamation, and there would be no more than 0.32 miles of temporary road structure. The total
linear feet of all new and existing drill roads to exist used by the project is most 1,700 feet.
All exploration activities and activities necessary to support the explorations itself autumn under CE
category 220.6(e)(8). These activities include those that are required to allow equipment access to the
site (such equally temporary road construction, grading and constructing drill pads), implementing the
exploration (such as drilling exploration holes, driving existing and temporary roads, having
equipment on-site, transporting drilling muds to an canonical off-forest site), and protecting natural
and cultural resources during the exploration itself (such every bit installing erosion control measures,
properly casing and abandoning drill holes, using noise and light controls, and regrading pads and
replacing topsoil).
In social club to minimize effects to natural resources, I am also requiring post-projection restoration for
habitat improvement. These restoration activities are important to provide food and cover for native
wild fauna species, as well as allowing for native institute success. These activities are not required to
back up the mineral exploration activities. Because these activities are not in support of mining
activities, we are using an additional CE category to comprehend these activities, which is:
36 CFR 220.vi(e)(6): Timber stand and/or wild fauna habitat improvement activities that practise not
include the use of herbicides or do not crave more than one mile of low standard road
construction.
This category of actions is applied because the restoration of project disturbance is for the purpose of
improving native vegetation, which is vital for wildlife habitat (including sage grouse and mule
deer). This volition ensure that in that location is no net loss of habitat and no outcome to the capability of Forest
species of conservation to persist over the long term in the program area. No herbicides will be used, and
no road will be constructed for the wildlife habitat improvement.
I want to be certain that acceptable rehabilitation occurs, and therefore do not want to limit whatsoever
activities needed for rehabilitation to a time frame of one year or less. The post-exploration habitat
restoration activities will include seeding, installing (sage-grouse friendly) fences around the pads to
protect seedlings from livestock or wildlife grazing, monitoring revegetation activities on foot, and
pulling weeds if needed. If monitoring shows that the initial revegetation is not adequate for wild animals
habitat comeback, this decision besides approves additional revegetation activities. These are non
support activities necessary for mineral exploration; the mineral exploration can proceed without
these actions and will be consummate earlier these actions occur. However, such actions are important
for habitat comeback and therefore are beingness included as part of my decision.
Every bit stated in the preamble to the 2020 Forest Service NEPA regulations under 36 CFR 22, "More than
than one CE may use to an activity. Integrated, multiple-employ management activities, which are
designed to accomplish management goals that oft cross authoritative programme boundaries, tin can
fit within multiple CEs." Use of two CEs helps me best run across my obligation to allow mineral
exploration activities while minimizing resource impacts, and my desire to better wildlife habitat
post-projection.

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
I find that there are no boggling circumstances that would warrant further analysis and
documentation in an EA or EIS. I took into account resource conditions identified in agency
procedures that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances might
exist, as well as other resources that are not explicitly included in the required resource for assay.
The full assay of furnishings for wildlife, botanical, water, noise and cultural resources are included equally
reports in the projection file: Long Valley Sensitive Species Habitat Verification Report; Cultural
Resource Inventory Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project Unincorporated Mono County,
California; KORE Long Valley Exploration Sage‐Grouse Lek Baseline Dissonance Monitoring and
Drilling Racket Assay; Hydrogeologic Evaluation; and Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project
Biological Impact Analysis).
The analysis of potential furnishings from those reports are summarized hither.
one. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species
proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Woods Service species of
conservation concern.
Plant Species of Conservation Concern
No special-status plant species were observed on-site during the pre-construction focused plant
survey. Further, based on habitat requirements for the identified special-status species and known
distributions, information technology was determined that the Project Touch on Area does non have the potential to
support any of the other establish species of conservation business concern documented as potentially
occurring within the vicinity of the projection site, and are presumed absent-minded. As a issue, no impacts
to plant species of conservation business concern are expected to occur.
Wild animals Species of Conservation Concern
No special-status wildlife species were observed on-site during the field investigation. Based on
habitat requirements for specific species and the availability and quality of on-site habitats, it was
determined that the Project Impact Expanse has the potential to support greater sage-bickering and
pygmy rabbit. In order to ensure no meaning direct or indirect impacts to the aforementioned
species occur from the project, the abstention and minimization measures listed in Appendix A
will be implemented. With implementation of these avoidance and minimization measures, any
impacts to species of conservation concern, should they be present, would be minor and
temporary. Information technology is probable that any sage bickering and pygmy rabbit in the area would avoid the
immediate vicinity of the drill sites during the exploration activities and associated disturbance.
Still, there is the potential for such avoidance to result in physiological stress, reduced
foraging success, and exposure to higher predation rates due to increased movements to skirt
project activities. Withal, these impacts will be short-term and spatially express, then will not
result in any impacts to the species that would affect their viability inside the projection expanse or the
Inyo National Forest.
To ensure compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and Fish and Game Lawmaking, a
pre-construction nesting bird clearance survey shall exist conducted within iii days of whatsoever vegetation
removal or ground disturbance. If occupied nests are discovered during the survey, non-activity
buffers between 300 and 500 feet will exist established around the identified nest.
Wildlife Corridors
The project site has the potential to be utilized as a wild fauna corridor by local wild fauna species, in
detail mule deer. Project activities will occur in a pocket-size area relative to the broad migration
path and at that place is adequate, undeveloped space available in the route for the deer to circumvent
projection activities. In addition, project pattern features to minimize impacts to wildlife were added
to the Plan of Operations, every bit summarized in Appendix A of this document. Design features added
include limited operating periods for leap migration, dissonance dampening, speed limits, night
lighting requirements, revegetation and wildlife protective fencing.
Since conditions on the site, after project implementation, volition be restored and will allow wildlife
motion across portions of the site and within adjoining big blocks of habitat, only temporary
impacts to wildlife movement will occur during project implementation. Due to the lack of whatsoever
identified long-term impacts to wild animals movement, migratory corridors or linkages or native
wildlife nurseries, wild fauna will not be significantly affected by the projection.

ii. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds
Floodplains
The USFWS National Wetlands Inventory and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset were
reviewed to determine if whatsoever streams or riverine resources have been documented within or
immediately surrounding the project site. Based on this review and the field investigation, one (1)
riverine resource was identified within the boundaries of the Project Area. This feature is an
ephemeral feature that follows on-site topography within the eastern portion of the Project Expanse
and flows only in straight response to precipitation northwest to southeast into Hot Creek, which is
located south of the Project Impact Area. The 2021 Program of Operations contains no drill pads or
new admission roads within 500 feet of this ephemeral stream and therefore there is no potential to
affect surface water or floodplains from exploration activities.
Wetlands
The projection surface area does non contain whatsoever wetlands. Therefore, there will exist no impacts to wetlands.
Municipal Watersheds
The entire projection area is inside a municipal watershed, the Owens River. Every bit described in this
document and the hydrology and hydrogeologic evaluation, there is a very low potential for whatever
effect to surface or groundwater quality or quantity from this exploration projection, and therefore
there would be no effect to municipal h2o supply.
As stated in a higher place, at that place is no surface h2o inside the project expanse, and only an ephemeral stream
within 500 feet of ground disturbing activities. There is therefore no potential for directly furnishings to
surface water quality or quantity.
Groundwater volition not exist extracted by the projection. Previous exploration drilling in the area did non
see whatever artesian groundwater conditions. Information technology is not expected that this exploration endeavour will
run across these conditions either, and therefore there should not be any inadvertent groundwater
loss. A groundwater assay has been completed that analyzes potential for intermixing of
shallow cool and deep warm aquifers in the expanse (Barlett, 2021). In summary, at that place does not
announced to exist a meaning upper, cool h2o aquifer in the merits block. Therefore, it is not likely
that drilling volition crusade intermixing of the 2 aquifers in this surface area. Further, to farther minimize
whatever risk of groundwater intermixing, drill holes will be cased during drilling, open for a short time
and abased (airtight) immediately after completion past backfilling with a bentonite slurry and
cement grout from the bottom of the pigsty to the surface. Therefore, at that place should be no effects to
groundwater.
Projection design features for the protection of water resources take been included in Appendix A
and approval of the Plan of Operations will be conditioned upon acceptance of these design
features. All drill holes volition be cased, blowout prevention equipment will be in employ, bore holes volition
be abandoned immediately upon completion, and spill kits volition be on site. These preventative
measures are an extra precaution to ensure that in the unlikely case that artesian groundwater menstruum
is encountered, there will be minimal potential impacts to groundwater, soil, or surface water
resources
iii. Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness written report areas, or national
recreation areas.
This project is not located in or adjacent to wilderness, wilderness report areas, or national
recreation areas, and thus in that location is no bear upon.
The project is non located within a congressionally designated or an eligible Wild & Scenic River
corridor. The nearest drilling volition be 0.v miles from an eligible Wild and Scenic River corridor for
Hot Creek. The hydrogeology written report (ended that "limited drilling campaign that KORE has
planned will not result in whatsoever impacts to regional spring menstruation or groundwater or surface h2o
quality." (Bartlett 2021, p. 9)
4. Inventoried Roadless Areas or potential wilderness areas
This project is not located in an Inventoried Roadless Area and thus in that location is no affect.
5. Research Natural Areas
This project is not located in a Research Natural Area and thus at that place is no touch
6. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites
— Long Valley Exploration Drilling Projection Determination Memo —
Folio 7 of xviii
Every bit provided for in the protocols established with each Tribe, the Forest Service has consulted with
interested Tribes. Government to Government Consultation was initiated with physical
consultation letters sent on March 24, 2021, and east-mails on March 25, 2021, to the following
tribes: Big Pine Paiute Tribe of Owens Valley, Bishop Paiute Tribe, Mono Lake Kutzadikaa and
Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation
On April 14, 2021, the Bridgeport Indian Colony, Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe and Mono Lake
Kutzadikaa Tribe requested consultation on the Long Valley Exploration Drilling project. The
Mono Lake Kutzadikaa and the Bridgeport Indian Colony attended a tribal consultation
teleconference on April 26, 2021. The Bishop Paiute Tribe requested a tribal field trip which was
conducted on June x, 2021. The project was again discussed at an inter-tribal meeting on August
19th.
Through this consultation, tribal representatives expressed concerns over effects to deer, hunting,
water resources, and other resource. Their concerns were addressed in the analysis and by calculation
design features and tribal monitors will invited to monitor implementation by the visitor during
projection activities.
7. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas –
The area of potential bear upon was surveyed for archaeological resources. No archeological sites or
sites eligible for National Historic Register listing volition exist adversely afflicted by this proposal
considering it was designed to avoid any known sites. The surface area of disturbance for one drill pad will
be fully staked and flagged prior to implementation with the assistance of an archaeological
monitor to ensure no unanticipated impact to an archaeological site. All ground disturbance volition
be confined to the flagged/staked area. Consultation for the above undertaking has been satisfied
pursuant to the 2013 Programmatic Agreement for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA on the
National Forests of the Pacific Southwest Region (RPA 2013, amended 2018). The project will be
implemented in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Human activity (NHPA,
36 CFR 800) based upon recommendations contained in the final cultural resources inventory
study (Enviromine 2021: Forest Report R2021050402509). If unanticipated cultural resources
are discovered during the course of project implementation, all activity at the project site would
cease, the discovery site would be protected and the responsible Inyo National Woods
Responsible official and Heritage Programme Managing director would be immediately notified. Therefore,
no boggling circumstances exist for this resource condition.
Other Resources
Although the following resource are non called out specifically equally those that should be considered
for boggling circumstances, we analyzed them to show compliance with the land management
plan, and to address issues brought upward in public comments.
• Riparian Conservation Areas – A small segment of a Riparian Conservation Surface area exists
within the southeast section of the project boundary. No disturbance of Riparian
Conservation Areas will occur, and the nearest project disturbance is approximately 500 feet
from the mapped area. Erosion control devices will also exist used on the perimeters of all pads
to prevent erosion and sedimentation. The projection shall exist conditioned to foreclose bear upon to
the riparian habitat as indicated in Appendix A
• Conservation Watershed – The project is not located within a Conservation Watershed, thus
at that place will be no impact.
• Sustainable Recreation Management Area – The project area is within a general recreation
area with mixed/moderate use and has a management objective of a natural, roaded recreation
area. No impacts to recreation opportunities will occur because no public lands other than
the operational pads and temporary roads, will exist restricted to admission by the projection. No
designated recreational trails are in the almost vicinity of the project.
• Scenery – The project will occur in an area that has a low scenic integrity objective but may
be visible from areas with a college objective. This project is temporary and the equipment to
be used does not present a large or permanent profile on the viewshed. Project equipment has
a maximum summit of 32 feet. Equipment location volition not be static and is expected to exist
moved to new location every 7 to x days. Project design features volition use the guidance
provided in the Mono County Full general Plan – Affiliate 23 Dark Skies for operational lighting.
Calorie-free fixtures used for the projection shall be shielded to direct lite downward to the working
areas and will not be low-pressure sodium or mercury vapor lamps. Headlight utilise past
vehicles will be limited to low beam settings inside the project boundary. No permanent
structures will be installed. Tourism and land employ in the expanse are not expected to be impacted.

PUBLIC Interest
This action was originally listed every bit a proposal on the Inyo National Forest Schedule of Proposed
Actions (SOPA) and updated periodically during the analysis. The projection was first published in the
SOPA on January 1, 2021. Public scoping was opened on April viii, 2021 and airtight on May 13, 2021,
which included a i-week extension of the original scoping period. Scoping letters were mailed to
one accost and electronic delivery was made to another 37 project subscribers through
GovDelivery. Comments were collected online in the Annotate Analysis and Response Application
likewise as through hardcopy, and email. In response to public requests, the Responsible Official
decided to extent the scoping menses by one week, and notified the public with a news release and
electronic mail to the original electronic mail list.
The comments received expressed concerns on a number of subjects that included potential impacts
to tourism, wildlife, cultural resources, water quality and recreation which was primarily about the
fishery on Hot Creek. Comments also addressed geothermal and seismic activity, air quality, noise
and light pollution. Technical studies completed in response to comments include KORE Long
Valley Exploration Sage‐Bickering Lek Baseline Dissonance Monitoring and Drilling Noise Analysis; and
Hydrogeologic Evaluation. Additional projection blueprint features and/or mitigations measures were also
added to the plan of functioning. These include:
• Audio barriers for equipment to reduce noise that might affect sage bickering.
• Shielded and directed lighting to limit potential calorie-free pollution.
• Air quality permits, if required, to be obtained through the Corking Bowl Air Quality
Management District
• Operator is responsible for immediate repairs of any, and all damages to roads, structures,
and improvements, which result from the operations.
• Noxious weeds volition be controlled.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits bigotry in all its
programs and activities on the footing of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and
where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, faith, sexual
orientation, genetic data, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an
private's income is derived from any public aid program. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who crave
alternative ways for communication of program data (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA'due south TARGET Centre at (202) 720-2600 (vocalism
and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or
call (800) 795-3272 (vocalism) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.

Bartlett, Doug. 2021. Hydrologic Evaluation, Kore Long Valley Project. Technical Memorandum.
June 1, 2021.
ELMT Consulting, Inc. 2021. Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project Biological Touch on Analysis.
August 2021.
Enviromine. 2021. Cultural Resources Report for the Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project.
Baronial 2021.
Saxelby Acoustics, LLC. 2021. Kore Long Valley Exploration Sage-Grouse Lek Baseline Noise
Monitoring and Drilling Noise Analysis. Mono Canton, California. June 2021.
WRA, Inc. 2021. Long Valley Sensitive Species Habitat Verification Written report. Mono Canton,
California. Revised March 2021.

APPENDIX A: PROJECT DESIGN FEATURES
In improver to Woods Plan standards and guidelines designed to mitigate impacts, the following
measures have been prescribed. These design features have been incorporated by the Woods Service
to reduce or prevent undesirable furnishings resulting from proposed project activities. These are
summarized here, past resources, and also included in the Plan of Operations. Approval of the Plan of
Operations volition be subject to the acceptance of these projection pattern features.
Engineering:
Consult with Engineering Staff every bit needed. All temporary access roads used by the projection should be
maintained and treated for tempest damage chance reduction or prepared for long term closure when the
project is consummate. Operator is responsible for immediate repairs of any, and all damages to roads,
structures, and improvements, which result from their operations, at their expense.
Cultural Resource:
Project activities shall not negatively impact celebrated structures or artifacts located within the project
boundary. Do not disturb or remove any historic artifacts, i.e., items over 45 years of age from the
project location, this includes cans, glass bottles, milled lumber etc. Do not disturb whatever basis
outside of the proposed projection purlieus; basis disturbing activities will occur but within the
identified access roads and the drill pads outlined in the fastened project map unless otherwise
approved by the Forest Service Cultural Specialist.
Wildlife:
Greater sage grouse: Greater sage grouse timing brake – No disturbance activity in the project
area from March 1st through June 30th unless prior written approval from the Forest Wildlife
Biologist is obtained.
Greater sage grouse: Bird anti-perching devices shall be installed on the top wire of all fencing and
debate posts installed by the project.
Greater sage bickering: Greater sage grouse timing brake – No disturbance activity in the projection
area from March 1st through June 30th unless prior written approval from the Woods Wildlife
Biologist is obtained.
Greater sage bickering: Bird perching deterrent devices shall be installed on the summit wire of all fencing
and contend posts installed by the project.
All Wildlife: Minimize the creation of new rights-of-style where feasible and less impactful by using
existing public or private utility rights-of-way to reduce impacts on other resources.
All wild animals: Afterward soil disturbance or seeding, subsequent soil-agonizing management activities shall
not occur until desired habitat weather have been met within sage habitat unless a resource team
determines that disturbance will help achieve desired conditions.
All wildlife: Acoustic screening devices shall be placed between the equipment noise sources and the
surrounding vegetation during the project.
All wild animals: Projection vehicles will find a 15 mile per hour speed limit on all roads due south of
Antelope Springs Road to reduce potential collisions with wildlife.
All wildlife: During all projection site activities, structure contractors shall equip all construction
equipment, fixed or mobile, with properly operating and maintained mufflers, consistent with
manufacturer standards.
All wild animals: The contractor shall place all stationary structure equipment and so that emitted dissonance is
directed away from the noise sensitive receptors nearest the project site.
All wildlife: Equipment shall exist shut off and not left to idle when not in use unless required to do so
for safety reasons.
All wildlife: The contractor shall locate equipment staging in areas that will create the greatest
altitude between construction-related noise/vibration sources and sensitive receptors nearest the
projection site during all project construction.
All wildlife: The project proponent shall mandate that the construction contractor prohibit the utilise of
music or sound distension on the project site during construction.
All wildlife: A Worker Environmental Sensation Program (WEAP) shall exist conducted prior to the
offset of project implementation, focusing on the avoidance and minimization of impacts to native
habitats and protection of species of conservation concern.
All wildlife: All lighting used on the project site shall follow the guidance provided in the Mono
Canton General Plan, Chapter 23 – Dark Heaven Regulations to directly light downward onto the work
area.
Water Resources
All erosion control devices, such every bit silt fences, certified weed free harbinger fiber rolls, and
biodegradable erosion fabric, should be maintained during all projection activities to maintain sediment
on site and minimize delivery of sediment to streams. All erosion control devices fabricated of natural
materials should be allowed to deteriorate in place.
During reclamation, excavation areas will exist reshaped to provide natural drainage patterns and
prohibit pooling of surface water.
Riparian areas designated past the Forest Service will not be disturbed.
Weeds:
All world agonizing equipment will need to be inspected by Woods Service Personal to make sure information technology
has been weed done prior to entering NFS lands.
Invasive plants noted on the projection disturbance volition removed manually, placed in a plastic pocketbook and
removed from Forest Service lands. These bags shall be disposed at a licensed country fill.
Information on identification and control of invasive plant species can be found on the websites
maintained by the California Invasive Plant Quango (CIPC) at: http://world wide web.cal-ipc.org and the North
American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) at: http://www.naisma.org
Soil and Hydrology:
Project activities volition not occur outside identified project expanse boundaries and access routes unless
otherwise canonical past the Woods Service.
Destruction of all drill holes shall be completed in accordance with the California Section of
Water Resources' Bulletin 74-81, H2o Well Standards (December 1981) and Bulletin 74-90,
California Well Standards (June 1991) every bit required by Mono Canton permit.
Drill muds created by the project shall be removed from Woods Service lands and transferred to an
appropriately licensed disposal facility.
All ground disturbance associated with grading and drilling by the project activities will be restricted
to within the identified project boundary. Run into site map.
Reclamation volition begin immediately later on exploration activities are completed and will be completed
before onset of winter.
The kickoff six inches of soil, if found to be relatively undisturbed and having higher organic content
than subsoil horizons, on each drill pad will be removed, stockpiled, and incorporated into the
reclaimed surface.
All existing ground encompass (grass, shrubs etc.) that will be disturbed during grading will be stockpiled
and used every bit basis embrace during reclamation.
Reclamation will include installing drainage features (drivable drain dips on the temporary access
roads at intervals canonical by the Woods Service, and sub-soiling or scarification of other disturbed
areas associated with project implementation.
Disturbed areas will be seeded with a Forest Service approved certified noxious weed costless native
seed mixture at a charge per unit of 16.5 lbs/acre (see Tabular array A-1 for the approved seed mixture).
All earth disturbing or sample processing equipment volition be inspected for seeds, plants, plant
fragments, or soil and cleaned every bit necessary prior to projection start-upwards and prior to transporting
equipment to project site.
Operators will be required to comply with all state and federal fuel management regulations and have
spill containment and cleanup kits appropriate for the quantity of fuel on site.
Transport of fuel volition use a D.O.T approved tank.
Reclamation work will be inspected during implementation by the Woods Service Minerals
Administrator who will maintain appropriate activity diary entries.
All specified and approved products will be documented by the inspector through drove of
receipts and tags prior to use. The post-obit table provides the Forest Service canonical seed mixture
to be used for reclamation of the site at a rate as indicated in Tabular array A-1.
Table A-1. Long Valley Explorations Seed Mix
Species Pure Live Seed*
(pounds per acre)
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) 0.five
Antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata four
Desert peach (Prunus andersonii 2
Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) 2
Western needlegrass (Achnatherum occidentalis) 2
Squirreltail (Elymus elytnoides) 3

Species Pure Live Seed*
(pounds per acre)
Spurred lupine (Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus) 2
Chicalote, prickly poppy (Argenione munita) i
Total: 16.v
*Pure Live Seed. Seed must be noxious weed free for all western states. Weed content not to exceed
0.03%

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Source: https://sierrawave.net/usfs-decision-memo-regarding-long-valley-kore-drilling/

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