2017-05-17_PERMIT FILE - M2017021

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EXHIBIT B Site Description The proposed Mined Land Reclamation Board (MLRB) Harmony Gardens Site permit area is entirely within a parcel of land owned by Serfer Land Ventures LLC. The proposed permit area is part of an agricultural parcel of land currently utilized by the owner for crop production. The parcel is located at the southeast corner of Weld County Road 74 and Weld County Road 13 and the proposed permit area is located on the south side of the parcel. There is an improved gravel farm road that connects the proposed permit area with Weld County Road 74. Adjacent land uses are mainly agricultural and semi-rural residential. The proposed 9.9-acre permit area contains more rocky soils than the rest of the parcel, making it less agriculturally productive. Soils include Olney fine sand loam and Cascajo gravely sandy loam. Overburden material is primarily composed of red and brown silty clay material. Test pits have verified that soils are generally thin (less than 4 inches thick) and the soil/overburden layer ranges from 2 to 4 feet deep across the proposed permit area. The Olney soils are typical of slightly saline soils found on sandy plains. They are generally well drained, non-hydric, and classified in Hydrologic Soil Group B. The Cascajo soils are more rocky than the Olney soils and are commonly found in gravel breaks and outcrops. The Cascajo soils are excessively well drained, have infiltration and low runoff potential, and are classified in Hydrologic Soil Group A. Vegetation within the proposed permit area has been heavily disturbed by past agricultural activities. Native grasses and shrubs such as blue grama, western wheatgrass, little bluestem, sideoats grama, sagebrush, soapweed, and pricklypear. Although these species are still present, most of the site is dominated by cheatgrass, kochia, thistle, and other weedy species. No jurisdictional wetlands are known to exist on-site. There are few man-made structures within the proposed permit boundary. A gas pipeline owned by the Sinclair Pipeline Company bisects the proposed permit area. Two water pipelines owned by the City of Greeley are immediately north of the site and the Lake Canal Ditch owned by the Lake Canal Reservoir Company is immediately south of the site. No other man-made structures are known to exist on or near the proposed permit area. There are no natural surface water resources, lakes, streams, or springs, on or near the proposed permit area. Depth to groundwater is not known, but well records obtained from the Colorado State Engineer's Office suggest that depth to groundwater could be from 30 to 40 feet below the ground surface. The Lake Canal Ditch is near the south side of the proposed permit boundary. Near the ditch, a seasonal, localized, perched groundwater system may be created from ditch seepage. Critical wildlife is not likely to exist in the proposed permit area due to historic land disturbances and lack of native vegetation and habitat. The proximity of the Lake Canal Ditch may provide limited seasonal water habitat for amphibians such as the Great Plains Toad and reptiles such as Harmon Gardens Site DRMS Limited Impact 110 Permit Application Page 5