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Applicant Response: The Colorado Historical Society letter is noted. <br /> 6.4.4 Exhibit D—Mining Plan <br /> 4. The Mining Plan calls for seeding fines stockpiles if they are in left in place for more than <br /> two years. In the Division's experience topsoil medium can be most effectively salvaged if <br /> the stockpiles are seeded if they are left in place for more than one year. Please commit to <br /> seeding the topsoil and fines stockpiles if left in place for more than one year or provide a <br /> justification for seeding the stockpiles after two years. <br /> Applicant Response: Topsoil stockpiles that are left in place for greater than one year will be <br /> seeded. Fines stockpiles are handled frequently, and therefore it is not practical to seed them. <br /> Sediment catchment ditches are in place at the foot of the fines stockpiles to prevent loss of <br /> usable fines from erosion.Page 23 of the application has been revised to reflect this. <br /> 5. The Operator is proposing to replace salvaged fines as well as available topsoil from <br /> undisturbed areas. Please confirm that topsoil will be replaced on the same areas from <br /> which it was salvaged. In addition,please commit to not mixing fines and topsoil when the <br /> materials are returned to the graded areas. <br /> Applicant Response: Topsoil salvaged from new areas will be placed in the topsoil storage <br /> location shown on Map C-2, adjacent to mining cuts 3 &4, and then used in the reclamation of <br /> the areas topsoil was stripped from once mining is complete. Fines generated from processing <br /> will be kept separate from salvaged topsoil and either placed in the existing fines piles or <br /> directly on old regraded areas only. <br /> 6. The Mining Plan for the gold operation calls for salvaging an average of 4.5 inches of <br /> topsoil from undisturbed areas and the Mining Plan for the gravel operation calls for <br /> salvaging 4 inches of topsoil from undisturbed areas. Please clarify why an average of 4.5 <br /> inches will not be salvaged from the gravel operation area. <br /> Applicant Response: 4.5 inches of topsoil will be salvaged from undisturbed areas in both the <br /> gold and gravel operations. Page 28 of the amendment narrative has been revised to reflect this. <br /> 7. The Mining Plan calls for replacing 3 inches of fines over the gravel mine area. The Division <br /> recommends replacing an average of 4.5 inches of fines over the gravel mine area,which is <br /> the average depth of native topsoil on the site.The Operator has stated approximately 25,000 <br /> cubic yards of fines have been stockpiled,which would allow for fines to be replaced at a <br /> greater depth.Please respond. <br /> Applicant Response: Fines will be placed to an average of 4.5 inches over the previously <br /> disturbed 23.1 acres of gravel mining area.Permit pages 23,28,33,44,45,47,48,49, & 82 <br /> have all been updated to reflect the average depth of 4.5 inches in reclamation. <br /> 8. The topsoil handling plan for the gravel operation states that the former 110 area of 11.8 <br /> acres has been regarded and will be reclaimed using fines from the stockpiles on site. The <br />