Laserfiche WebLink
n <br /> Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> groundwater resources in the Little Turkey Creek watershed and quantifies impacts to those resources <br /> both upstream and downstream of the HRR Quarry. In particular,the recharge to the watershed that <br /> supplies water wells in the granite will not be impacted by the quarry excavation which is downgradient <br /> from these wells. The HRR operation will not consumptively use of any watershed water, and any <br /> groundwater seepage into the quarry will be redirected back to Little Turkey Creek via sediment <br /> retention ponds so that there is no net change to the water balance. Little Turkey Creek flows provide <br /> the source of recharge to the Fountain Formation sandstones east of the fault zone. The mining plan <br /> will maintain the base of the quarry at least 10 feet above the creek level, so that there will be no <br /> diversion of creek flows into the quarry. As a result,the flows in Little Turkey Creek,and the recharge to <br /> wells in the Fountain Formation,will not be impacted. DWR concurs with this assessment as they <br /> provided a letter to the Division stating that groundwater impacts were so minimal that a well permit or <br /> SWSP was not necessary <br /> Objection: Claims that shock waves from blasting will damage the fragile aquifers that supply their <br /> already scarce water. <br /> Response: Blasting in mining operations are engineered to minimize noise and "shock waves" as these <br /> are wasted energy and wasted money. Studies performed by the Office of Surface Mining and multiple <br /> other jurisdictions that regulate mining activities have demonstrated that blasting within 300 feet of a <br /> well may affect groundwater fractures and well performance and that there are little to no changes in <br /> an aquifer at distances greater than 500 feet from a blasting area. In Colorado, DWR regulations are <br /> limited to 600 feet from a blasting area. The quarry area is approximately 1,400 feet from the closest <br /> well, which is far beyond the area of any potential impacts to the aquifer. <br /> Water Quality <br /> Objection: Potential fuel spills, use of herbicides and other contaminate runoff may impact wells <br /> downstream. Potential for water contamination by radon, dust, silt, leaching,foreign chemicals. Storm <br /> waters can wash through the quarry moving rock and toxins downstream. <br /> Response:The comments about potential spills contaminating runoff and impacting downstream wells <br /> is highly speculative and ignores the fact that discharged water quality will be regulated by a National <br /> Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit obtained from CDPHE (as listed in Exhibit M)and <br /> a spill that contaminates Little Turkey Creek would be in violation of that permit. Also,fuel tanks require <br /> secondary containment to prevent such spills.Transit Mix will not use any leaching or foreign chemicals <br /> in the operation as indicated on the application form. Lastly, should a spill occur, it will be intercepted <br /> by the stormwater system and the Emergency Response Procedures included in Exhibit T will be <br /> followed to prevent downstream migration of the contaminants. <br /> Objection: A letter implies that the quarry could create another Flint, Michigan. It also states that the <br /> aquifer is over-taxed by three other quarry-mining operations. <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Response to Comments <br /> March 9,2018 6 <br />