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lip <br /> Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> losing creek east of the "West Fault", and the creek often completely infiltrates shortly after crossing the <br /> "East Fault". As the creek flow will continue uninterrupted,there will be no impacts to groundwater <br /> resources east of the project area.The source data for these concepts are based on actual field <br /> observations and measurements. <br /> Objection: The water monitoring wells may not intercept the same fractures that might be impacted. <br /> Response: The monitoring systems that are installed at the HRR property are designed to measure <br /> potentiometric head (water levels) and water quality at multiple depths at each location. These data <br /> reflect groundwater conditions in the vicinity of the monitoring facility and are not dependent on the <br /> interconnection of the monitoring facility with any specific fractures, but rather the fracture system as a <br /> whole. Groundwater flow within the south ridge, where the HRR Quarry will be located,occurs through <br /> a network of fractures within the granite bedrock. The fracture system within the granite bedrock of the <br /> south ridge is ubiquitous but exhibits a very low bulk transmissivity due to the very tight nature and <br /> narrow aperture of the fractures. This low bulk transmissivity is supported by multiple lines of evidence. <br /> Removal of granite during quarry excavation will intercept a small amount of groundwater from the <br /> south ridge area that flows towards Little Turkey Creek. The quarry footprint represents a small fraction <br /> (-5%)of the 6.48 sq. mi Little Turkey Creek watershed area west of the West Fault. Any intercepted <br /> groundwater will be collected by ditches, routed though sediment detention ponds and then discharged <br /> to Little Turkey Creek. From a water balance perspective,there will be no net change in the water <br /> resources of the Little Turkey Creek watershed. Quarrying activities will not impact the recharge to the <br /> watershed to the west of the HRR property. The monitoring facilities will document any groundwater <br /> potentiometric or water quality changes that may occur as a result of the HRR Quarrying activities. <br /> The groundwater report in Exhibit G specifically addresses this comment. The report demonstrates that <br /> there is a water balance within the Little Turkey Creek watershed, and all waters are accounted for. The <br /> report also demonstrates that groundwater will still be available for use by existing well owners. <br /> Objection: Transit Mix did not follow the 2016 recommendation of their engineers (to drill additional <br /> boreholes south of the creek) and has failed to meet the commitment made in the 2016 application to <br /> perform more analysis before the south pit is opened for mining. <br /> Response: Norwest Corporation made the recommendations in their stability evaluation of the previous <br /> (2016) permit application. Norwest designed,coordinated, and oversaw the 2017 drilling program to <br /> collect groundwater and geotechnical information. These additional data provide sufficient data to start <br /> quarry operations and evaluate pit wall conditions and stability,and there remains the need to conduct <br /> additional drilling to confirm the rock mass and structure conditions in the southern part of the quarry <br /> as development progresses. This practice of continually updating and evaluating information is common <br /> in mining and quarrying. Additional borings were not included in the 2017 drilling program to limit <br /> disturbances to these remote areas of the property. Transit Mix is following their operating practice of <br /> limiting disturbances until necessary to create the disturbance. This is a key method that Transit Mix <br /> uses in all their operations to minimize impacts to habitat,wildlife, and water resources. However, <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Response to Comments <br /> March 9,2018 22 <br />