2022-11-18_PERMIT FILE - M2022048 (5)

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EXHIBIT I/J SOILS &VEGETATION SOILS INFORMATION The following information was obtained from site observations and the basic soils and vegetation information found thru the USDA' s National Soils information page and the Soil Survey of Weld County. The soils information was downloaded from the USDA site and is made part of this application. Soil units are shown on the USDA map, reproduced on the next page . The photo map shows the surrounding vegetation features and soil types . As explained earlier in EXHIBITD-MININGPLAN, the mine site is located about 1 . 5 miles west of Downtown Platteville and is separated into a western and eastern area by an irrigation return flow ditch and north to south by Weld County Road(WCR) 32 . 5 . The western border of the mine site parallels WCR 21 . The area to be mined is west of the river and two-thirds of which lies in the 100 year floodplain of the river. The remaining, western third is a terrace deposit above the floodplain. This west area is predominantly used for crop production or general agriculture and grazing at this time. The areas on the level of the South Platte River have been used for irrigated crops, grazing, river bottom and private recreation. There are 7 soils types found on the mine site that will be disturbed by mining. In the lower terrace adjacent to the river where the site has been flooded in the past the topsoil depth varies from 10 to 12 inches, with lenses that may be deeper, averaging 12 inches . The overburden averages from 0 to 5 feet deep averaging 5 . 0 feet and the gravel varies from 27 to 55 feet deep, averaging 45 . 0 feet . On the western upland area the topsoil averages from 10 to 12 inches deep. Under laying the topsoil is a layer of overburden varying from 3 to 4 feet deep and a layer of gravelly sand that is 55 to 65 feet thick. There is adequate topsoil on the mined area to salvage enough to respread an average of 10-12 inches on all above water areas needing seeding for reclamation. Portions of the overburden will be used on-site for reservoir liner construction. Some topsoil and overburden may be sold as fill material . Detailed soils information can be found in the following soils descriptions and tables . The Water area (soil type 85) has no topsoil nor will it be mined. L.G. EVERIST, INC. -WEST FARM RESERVOIRS 38 November 2022