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Project Name: Aggregate Mining in Montana

County: All Counties

State: Montana

Oversight Agency: Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Opencut Mining Program
Concurrent reclamation in a high mountain peat bog

Goals of Mining Reclamation Permits in Montana

  • To have a plan before mining starts
  • To reclaim to a beneficial use
  • To protect natural resources
  • To protect public health and safety
  • To preserve the value of land
  • To keep a bond to guarantee work

Typical Problems Chronic to Gravel Pits

  • Underbonding
  • Poor site selection
  • Topsoil loss
  • Spills
  • Water Pollution
  • Dust
  • Highwalls
  • Unstripped haul roads
  • Out of boundaries
  • Waste disposal
  • Erosion
  • Noxious weeds
  • No fuel berms
  • Inaccurate maps
  • Poor settling ponds
  • Stockpiles on soils

Photo Examples of Problems

Inadequate topsoil stripping depth

 
Mixing topsoil and overburden
Product, topsoil and overburden mixed together

 
Mixed soils can't be removed
More Problem Photos >>

Proper Mine Reclamation Practices

  • Strip topsoil ahead of everything
  • Keep topsoil and overburden separate
  • Plant grass for erosion and weed control
  • Don't pollute the water
  • Stay inside permit boundaries
  • Grade out highwalls and pit when finished
  • Rip compacted ground before replacing soils
  • Smooth out rough grading
  • Replace overbuden before topsoil
  • Put topsoil back evenly on top
  • Seed with a drill to get best results
  • Keep noxious weeds sprayed early

Photo Examples of Proper Practices

Proper soil stripping helps ensure reclamation

 
Topsoil separated from overburden
Grading to blend

 
Grading to blend
More Proper Practices Photos >>

Useful Maps and Tools:

Schematic maps

 
Schematic maps
Access to orthophotos make excellent maps

 
Adding topo lines and color improve maps

 
Adding a cross section gives another perspective

 
Planning worksheet
Reclamation Bond Breakdown - DEQ

For More Information, Contact:

Montana Department of Environmental Quality Open Cut Mining Program

Submitted By:

Jerry Burke, MDEQ Open Cut Bureau


Date: August 2004

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© Montana State University Bozeman | Updated: Wednesday, September 1, 2004