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1l <br /> ' o Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> Responses to HRR Objection Letters <br /> Introduction <br /> Transit Mix Concrete Co. (Transit Mix) submitted a 112 permit application for the proposed Hitch Rack <br /> Ranch Quarry(M-2017-049). The permitting process includes a public comment period,which ended on <br /> December 21, 2017. This document includes Transit Mix's response to the parties objecting to the <br /> quarry permit application. <br /> Nearly all the objection letters contain broad topics of objection without supporting references to <br /> specific items, locations etc. and without any supporting evidence to allow Transit Mix to effectively <br /> respond. Many of the letters included the following statement as the entire basis for the objection: <br /> "The application fails to protect water resources,wildlife habitat and the easement rights of several <br /> property owners along Little Turkey Creek Road." While Transit Mix understands that the local <br /> community is concerned about water resources,wildlife, and easement rights,Transit Mix has provided <br /> sufficient documentation in their permit application to demonstrate that impacts to water resources <br /> and wildlife will be minimized and that Transit Mix has the right to access the property and commence <br /> mining operations in accordance with the rights granted in the lease with the Colorado State Land <br /> Board. Each of these topics and responses to specific comments are discussed in detail in this <br /> document. <br /> Many of the objection letters claim the parties will be aggrieved by dust,traffic, noise,decreasing <br /> property values, and other topics outside the jurisdiction of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety (Division)or the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (Board). These topics are <br /> addressed by the County Special Use Permit process or permitting with other agencies, and there are <br /> opportunities for parties to object to the Quarry as part of those permits' processes. <br /> Many of the objection letters contain misleading or incorrect information or raise objections to matters <br /> that were addressed in the M-2017-049 permit application. There may also be some confusion between <br /> the 2016 application from Transit Mix and permit M-2017-049. Select examples are included below, <br /> along with a response from Transit Mix summarizing the facts as presented in their permit application. <br /> • The application "does not address the dynamics of the entire fracture system" and "nor does it <br /> adequately protect the hydrologic balance for downstream and adjacent users." <br /> Response: The groundwater assessment in Attachment G-2 specifically addresses both these <br /> concerns and demonstrates that impacts to the hydrologic balance will be minimized. <br /> • "[Tjhis intrusive operation for 55 years plus" and the "valuable riparian corridor to be altered <br /> permanently". Other objectors mention that Transit Mix's plans for a 50-year quarry operation. <br /> Response:The previous application had a 52-year operation,while the application for M-2017-049 <br /> clearly specifies a 40-year mine life. The riparian corridor has been avoided and preserved in the <br /> application. These comments indicate some confusion between the updated permit application and <br /> the prior application. <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Response to Comments <br /> March 9,2018 1 <br />