2022-07-18_PERMIT FILE - M2022018

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South Hinsdale Response to Objections 12 July 2022 and processing sand and gravel are neither permanent nor irreversible. The State's mining and reclamation laws have been enforced for almost 50 years and actions required by those laws have ensured that permanent and irreversible environmental damage have been prevented and abandoned mine laws and regulations have also significantly mitigated and reduced environmental damage from pre-regulation mining. While trained and experienced observers can often identify a reclaimed mining area, or there are features which are obviously manmade (such as ponds), many of these are not able to be identified by users and travelers, demonstrating that environmental change does not mean environmental damage. Untreated Water MUST Enter Wasters of the US Claim: Several commenters claimed/assumed that water MUST flow through a mining area and be discharged (without treatment)to waters of the United States: Response: This is not accuf@t�. Both irrigation return flows and storm water will be diverted around the disturbed areas of the mining operations. This prevents contamination due to sediment or other constituents. Storm water which comes in contact with disturbed areas of mining operations, stockpiles, and mining equipment and process water (if generated) will be prevented from being discharged by the use of surface water management controls(best management practices or BMP). These include "retention basins"(basins which normally do not discharge ANY water, but rather allow the collected water to infiltrate (soak into the ground) or evaporate) and "detention basins"(basins which MAY discharge some water on the surface but only after water is detained long enough to be inspected, allow sediments to settle out of the water ( a form of treatment) and which usually have some form of controlled discharge (weirs, gates, pumping, etc.)) only in case of extreme weather conditions and only after inspection and if necessary sampling and testing. These basins include additional treatment, including sediment filters (fabric, straw, coir, etc.), silt fencing, and other BMP to prevent contaminates from being transported by the water if discharged. For the South Hinsdale Pit, a combination of these BMP will be used, with the objectives of preventing off-site flow onto the disturbed areas, and allowing no flow from these disturbed areas (where water has come in contact with bare earth, pitrun and processed materials, and equipment) off-site into the various channels which allow water to flow into the river. These include construction of at least two retention basins at the western end of the affected area, as well as other BMP implemented during operations. If customers, doing work to benefit the area community, need washed materials, the applicant wishes to retain the option to provide the requested material based on approval by regulatory agencies. If washing of aggregates is done, it would use a closed system which would not discharge into the river directly or indirectly: sediment would be retained in basins on-site and then used for backfill to be covered by soil. Easements Must Not Be Disturbed Claim: Work including excavation and mining and filling cannot be done on easements, whether in use or not: Response: Based on the considerable research and coordination with various sources, there is no prohibition in doing work or occupying on a temporary basis in any utility easement, provided that the utility company themselves are not impacted and that access for their operation, maintenance and repair is maintained. In addition, DRMS requires that mine operators provide indemnity to all owners of significant 5182-22-003 WASTELINE, INC. Page 82 of 107