2018-03-09_PERMIT FILE - M2017049 (29)

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o Transit Mix Concrete Co. mining areas and roadways. Cattle guards will be of typical in-ground construction. Fences will be constructed as 4 strand wire fences typically used to fence in livestock. The wire types and heights will follow CPW fencing recommendations in their "Fencing With Wildlife In Mind" document. A discussion of the fence details has been included in Exhibit D, and removal costs have been included in Exhibit L. 52) In Table E-1 -Reclamation Areas by Affected Land Type, there are values given for highwall slopes in mining phases 11, V, and VI, totaling 14.27 acres. However, in the text below Table D-3 in Exhibit D, the Applicant states highwall slopes will not be reclaimed (only highwall benches will be reclaimed). Therefore, please explain why acreage for highwall slopes was included in Table E-1. Additionally, Table D-4 shows the estimated affected lands consisting of highwall slopes to be a total of 27.17 acres. Based on Table E- 1, which shows 14.27 acres of highwall slopes will be reclaimed, this would mean 12.9 acres of highwall slopes would not be reclaimed. Please provide clarification on the values included for highwall slopes in Table E-1, or make any necessary correction(s). Response: Table E-1 has been revised to more clearly present the areas that will be reclaimed (224.76 acres), and the highwall slopes that will remain as bedrock outcrop faces (14.27 acres). The difference in highwall slope areas between Table D-3 (27.17 acres) and Table E-1 (14.27 acres) is the highwall area (12.90 acres) that are backfilled by the placement of fines in stockpiles F2 and F3. These 12.90 acres will be covered with material and graded to a 3H:1 V slope, and these areas will be reclaimed. 53) On page E-9 — Riparian, the Applicant states the drainage across the quarry area and the drainage adjacent to the F1 stockpile will be planted primarily with aspen trees. However, aspen trees were not included in the riparian species mixture. If the Applicant proposes planting aspen trees for reclamation, this species must be added to the riparian seed mixture, and associated costs must be added to the bond estimate provided in Exhibit L. The Applicant indicates slight differences in the riparian mixture may be necessary for areas with sufficient water available (Little Turkey Creek crossing) versus areas that may not have sufficient water available (drainage across quarry area and drainage adjacent to F1 stockpile). If this is the case, the Division recommends the Applicant propose two separate riparian seed mixtures. These mixtures should be displayed in a list or table format. Please provide a planting rate for all reclamation species. Response: The discussion on riparian species has been revised to include two mixes for riparian areas with varying levels of water availability. The reclamation costs in Exhibit L have been revised to include costs for both species mixtures; however, with the same planting rates and the same percentages of tree and shrub species, there is no different in the planting costs for the two riparian mixes. 54) On page E-11, the Applicant states during subsoil placement, gouges and minor undulations will be created with a backhoe or hydraulic excavator to reduce erosion on slopes. The Applicant states these features will be 1-1/2 to 2 feet deep, with the width of a hydraulic excavator bucket, and the edges of these features will be sloped to allow egress by wildlife. These depressions will be repeated in a random and overlapping pattern. The Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry(M-2017-049) Response to Comments—March 9,2018