Reclamation
Reclamation of disturbed areas at the Smoky Canyon Mine is an ongoing process, concurrent with extraction operations. Backfilling is completed by placing the higher selenium concentration overburden in the pit first and capping with chert. The area is rough graded and drainage configurations are established. Topsoil is directly placed from active soil salvaging operations or from nearby stockpiles and spread over the graded surface. Topsoil is spread to a thickness of 1 to 3 feet. The seedbed is prepared by fine grading followed by placement of fertilizer and seed. Revegetation is implemented when mine activities in an area are completed.
The detailed planning for each phase of mining has
been separately reviewed by the BLM and USFS and different revegetation practices and seed
mixes have been specified at different points of time by the Agencies, which incorporate lessons
learned at the Smoky Canyon Mine and other phosphate mines. In addition to erosion
protection, reclamation is intended to meet the final CTNF multiple land use goals of wildlife
habitat, recreation, hunting, and grazing. An example of the overall reclamation process is
shown below.
At closure, ancillary mine facilities, as well as roads deemed no longer necessary for
maintenance access, monitoring, or public access, would be removed. Offices, buildings,
shops, mill facilities, and utilities would be removed. The sites of these facilities would then be
regraded and revegetated.
Public motorized access to reclaimed mine areas is controlled until the reclamation is deemed
successful by the BLM and USFS. Public motorized access to reclaimed areas is then reestablished
in concurrence with USFS management plans. Public, non-motorized access to
reclaimed areas is not restricted.
