How do you determine when your disturbance becomes significant?? Options

[realnice]

Hi all, im new to the site. Been prospecting for about 10 years here in Colorado. I hold a few mining claims and am wondering about determining significant disturbance on historically disturbed areas. An area where i have a claim has been logged and mined for a long time and the land shows it. It also has very heavy 4wd use. it is not very pristine at all. One of my claims is visible from the road so recently it has come upon scrutiny by the USFS. there is a 40 ft x 20 ft. worked area. The area is disturbed and is comprised of filled in diggs.
The 228.4 Plan of operations—notice of intent—requirements seem to fit my site as to not have to file a plan of operations, but one stipulation is...
(v) Operations, which in their totality,
will not cause surface resource disturbance
which is substantially different
than that caused by other users
of the National Forest System who are
not required to obtain a Forest Service
special use authorization, contract, or
other written authorization;

If they deem my operation to be causing significant disturbance what can they do? Arent they supposed to inform me to stop and complete a plan of operations? What are my rights here?

How do I appeal a desicion by the USFS?

[CP]

Yes!
I propose that we start a Bikini Car Wash to raise funds to save the mine!
[queue 70s hit song "Car Wash"/]
I'm IN

Reading this I pictured Swizz, Coalbunny, Leonard in Binkinis......thanks alot for that image!!
Well there would definately be some honkin' goin' on but who knows if anyone would have the guts to stop for the wash job.
I'm gonna have to look at the sun or something to burn that pic out of me head now........

One bit of advice realnice.......take someone with you as witness and hopefully armed with a video camera to record the meeting/events of the day. I've known several claim owners to do this and it definately helps to record the convo's and the bs should there happen to be any.......
Good luck with the field meet up.
I'll be posting up a story about another claim owners recent field meetings with officials soon too that will be along these same lines but longer periods (years) with quite an interesting outcome......everyone keep your eyes open for that thread to show up soon, I think you'll all find the results interesting as well.

CP