2016-04-18_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (6)

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Refutation of BBA Water Consultants Executive Summary of Potential Ground and Surface Impacts Note: Numbered paragraphs below are copied from the BBA Water Consultants report. Underlined items in those paragraphs are items I am addressing in my refutation. My refutations are italicized and underlined immediately following the BBA sections. Refer to Figure B on the following page for the Transit Mix geologic interpretation used by the BBA consultants. 1. The operation of the proposed quarry is not expected to directly affect surface or ground water systems. What exactly do "not expected to"and"directly affect"mean?What assurance is that to the proper(y owners? 2. Test drilling at the property performed for Transit Mix did not reveal saturated bedrock conditions within the mining interval and,therefore,mining will probably not impact surface or ground water systems by intercepting ground water. The test coring was done usin"g_water based mud in a hi hl fractured zone, This makes the statements about"highly productive aquifer zones not encountered'; "no ground water interception '; and "probably not impact surface_orground waterstems"a-g-uess based on easily misinterpreted data. 3. Mining operations will be limited to areas 100 feet away and elevations 10 feet above the existing channel of Little Turkey Creek,the primary drainage within the property. Mining will not induce seepage from the creek and will,not directly impact flow in the creek. Mining adjacent to Deadman Creek will extend below the elevation of the creek (subject to the 100 foot setback),but the creek is typically dry and saturated conditions therefore do not exist immediately below the streambed.There is not a hydraulic connection between the streambed and the deeper aquifer system and,therefore mining will not interact with this drainage. The 100 foot lateral and 10 foot vertical separations are not sufficient aquitards in this structural setting to support the statements that 1 have h4ghlighted in the above paragraphs. Fractured crystalline rock sitting on highly brecciated faulted creek beds that intersect with a regional thrust fault system make the effectiveness unpredictable. Also,after blasting and removal of 393 acres ofgranite, it is possible that communication may be created between isolated aquifers if they were not already.