§ 21.29.060. Reclamation plan.

A.

All material site permit applications require a reclamation plan.

B.

The applicant shall revegetate with a non-invasive plant species and reclaim all disturbed land upon exhausting the material on-site, or within a pre-determined time period for long-term activities, so as to leave the land in a stable condition. Reclamation must occur for all exhausted areas of the site exceeding five acres before a five-year renewal permit is issued, unless otherwise required by the planning commission. If the material site is one acre or less in size and has been granted a CLUP due to excavation in the water table, reclamation must be performed as specified by the planning commission or planning director in the conditional use or counter permit.

C.

The following measures must be considered in preparing and implementing the reclamation plan, although not all will be applicable to every reclamation plan.

1.

Topsoil that is not promptly redistributed to an area being reclaimed will be separated and stockpiled for future use. This material will be protected from erosion and contamination by acidic or toxic materials and preserved in a condition suitable for later use.

2.

The area will be backfilled, graded and recontoured using strippings, overburden, and topsoil to a condition that allows for the reestablishment of renewable resources on the site within a reasonable period of time. It will be stabilized to a condition that will allow sufficient moisture for revegetation.

3.

Sufficient quantities of stockpiled or imported topsoil will be spread over the reclaimed area to a depth of four inches to promote natural plant growth that can reasonably be expected to revegetate the area within five years. The applicant may use the existing natural organic blanket representative of the project area if the soil is found to have an organic content of 5% or more and meets the specification of Class B topsoil requirements as set by Alaska Test Method (ATM) T-6. The material shall be reasonably free from roots, clods, sticks, and branches greater than 3 inches in diameter. Areas having slopes greater than 2:1 require special consideration and design for stabilization by a licensed engineer.

4.

Exploration trenches or pits will be backfilled. Brush piles and unwanted vegetation shall be removed from the site, buried or burned. Topsoil and other organics will be spread on the backfilled surface to inhibit erosion and promote natural revegetation.

5.

Peat and topsoil mine operations shall ensure a minimum of two inches of suitable growing medium is left or replaced on the site upon completion of the reclamation activity (unless otherwise authorized).

6.

Ponding may be used as a reclamation method as approved by the planning commission.

D.

The plan shall describe the total acreage to be reclaimed each year, a list of equipment (type and quantity) to be used in reclamation, and a time schedule of reclamation measures.

(Ord. No. 2006-01(S), § 1, 8-1-06)