Voluntary – 43 CFR 3809 Plan of Operations Form
EXHIBIT XIV
as applicable
Geotechnical Stability
This Exhibit may be applied to CDRMS Hardrock 110/112 Geotechnical Stability Exhibit, additional information may be required.
Additional information and/or mitigation may be included in the corresponding NEPA analysis for the proposed project.
1. On a site-specific basis, an Applicant shall be required to provide a geotechnical evaluation of all geologic hazards
that have the potential to affect any proposed impoundment, slope, embankment, highwall, or waste pile within the
affected area. The Applicant may also be required to provide a geotechnical evaluation of all geologic hazards,
within or in the vicinity of the affected lands that may be de-stabilized or exacerbated by mining or reclamation
activities.
2.
On a site-specific basis, an Applicant shall be required to provide engineering stability analyses for proposed final
reclaimed slopes, highwalls, waste piles, embankments, and ore leach facilities. An Applicant may also be required
to provide engineering stability analyses for certain slope configurations as they will occur during operations,
including, but not limited to, embankments and ore leach facilities. Information for slope stability analyses may
include, but would not be limited to, slope angles and configurations, compaction and density, physical
characteristics of earthen materials, pore pressure information, slope height, post-placement use of site, and
information on structures or facilities that could be adversely affected by slope failure.
3.
Where there is the potential for off-site impacts due to failure of any geologic structure or constructed earthen
facility, which may be caused by mining or reclamation activities, the Applicant shall demonstrate through
appropriate geotechnical and stability analyses that off-site areas will be protected with appropriate factors of
safety incorporated into the analysis. The minimum acceptable safety factors will be subject to review by BLM,
on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the degree of certainty of soil or rock strength determinations
utilized in the stability analysis, depending upon the consequences associated with a potential failure, and
depending upon the potential for seismic activity at each site.
4.
At sites where blasting is part of the proposed mining or reclamation plan, the Applicant shall demonstrate through
appropriate blasting, vibration, geotechnical, and structural engineering analyses, that off-site areas will not be
adversely affected by blasting
Page 36 of 36