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?

[realnice]

Ok, going in for another meeting today in a few hours. Ive been so busy the past few months. Got a great new job surveying mining claims down south. Real mining claims...like 300 stakes on the whole side of a mountain. Fun job.
Anyways, I haven't had time to prepare but Im going in saying that I need a provision for mechanized equipment if I am going to furnish a 2,000 dollar bond. Otherwise I think that there should be no bond. To make things a little worse for me, the expert Tom Abbay has retired and he was a huge help for me. I requested the presence of another specialist for this meeting so we will see what they conjure up. I think they also need to take responsibility for screwing my operation up. The season is almost done which will make 2 whole seasons of no acess.
I'll let you all know how it goes.

realnice