2014-08-25_REVISION - M2009053 (3)

Home Browse Search

1111endcd 1-1n11lcd hilpoct /10 Uperotirut Pci11rit,11)1)1icario�n L_Xhrhity R,thin, h'ncl, ['it - Rooms Con, t,tic tit)y, LLLP This Robins Rock Pit lies approximately 3.1 miles northwest of Conejos, Colorado, and 3.7 miles northwest of Antonito, Colorado at an elevation varying between 8,000 and 8,130 feet above mean sea level. The land is positioned on the east side of a prominent mesa, and includes small portions of the flat top and bottom of the slope. The side of the mesa rises sharply for roughly one hundred feet, and includes a slightly gentler slope at its base where there is a talus deposit. In general, the site slopes from northwest to southeast. The land adjacent to the site is undeveloped north and west of the site at the top of the mesa, and irrigated farmland south and east of the site at the bottom of the mesa. The owner of this field, a Mr. Aniceto Luceto, is also the owner of the surface and subsurface rights. The entire proposed permit boundary is surrounded by land owned by the applicant and his wife, Randall &LouAnn Robins. The only significant change from the Robins Rock Pit filed at M-2009-053 is the removal of an irrigation/drainage pond. At the time of approval in 2009 there was a small pond located at the southeast corner of the permit boundary that was fed by an irrigation ditch which supplied water to a center-pivot sprinkler serving the field south of the Robins Rock Pit. Mr. Luceto, the owner of the ditch, claimed the ditch ended at the pond. Shortly after mining operations commenced the pond and ditch were drained, and the pond filled with native excavated materials. With the exception of remnants of the ditch no longer in use, there are no other significant permanent man-made structures within 200 feet of the site except those listed below. Note: Both the ditch and pond may be seen in some aerial photography included in these exhibits, but it must be remembered that these images are older than 2010, and that the pond does not exist and the ditch is not as prominent. a) Soil &Vegetation Characteristics The soil and vegetation at this site as they are described in "Soil Survey of Conejos County Area, Colorado" developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Soil Conservation Service (SCS) are included herewith in this exhibit. The area is dominated by rocky basaltic lava outcrops which produce near vertical walls from 10 to 40 feet in height. Some erosion and cliff wall failure has occurred and talus slopes are evident at the base of the cliffs. As it is described in the soil survey, the area to mined is Travelers Very Stony Loam which has a combined surface layer and subsoil that is approximately 12 inches deep, and the substratum is a very stony loam approximately 4 inches thick. The effective rooting depth is 10 to 20 inches. A summary of the native vegetation for this soil and area are provided herewith, and none of the current or proposed mining operations will significantly impact the vegetative capabilities of the site. With the exception of the south end of the boundary at the base of the mesa, the site was undeveloped and mostly unused prior to the commencement of mining operations. That portion at the bottom of the mesa was employed partly as farmland, and partly as a farming operation and maintenance area. "poI rc1 R� - Sctnrtnit F11"'11,11CCI 16 A'innhc'r: 4N0I Page 6 of 73