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"...the devastation of the beauty of the area." • Currently approximately 50% of the area is covered in a mixture of sage and noxious weeds. The depth of the projected gravel pits will normally keep all facilities and machinery below the horizon, with the exception of gravel trucks coming and going from the gravel pit. The haul road within the gravel operation itself is designed to parallel the Redvale Road at a distance of over one quarter of a mile, using distance to minimize any disturbance to the view that they may create. "Ground Water pollution, including MTBE" The source for ground water contamination by MTBE is generally considered to be from leaking underground gasoline storage tanks. There aze no underground storage tanks considered for this operation. Furthermore, the operation will not pollute the local groundwater, as it will not interfere with local groundwater. Mining horizons will be maintained above any groundwater. 6. "Not only continuous noise, but also vibration from equipment and the operation of the gravel pit." Again, allowable noise levels are spelled out in and regulated by the Montrose County Special Use Permit. Equipment for this type of pit is relatively small and portable and will not provide appreciable seismic impact to the area in addition to the always present • seismic activity of the Department of Reclamation's Bedrock Desalination Project which produces hundreds of small earthquakes each year in Southwestern Colorado. 7. "Disruption of water flow to stream on my property." The Operator does not plan to disrupt any surface or ground water so the stream on the subject property should not be impacted. However, changes of the irrigation practices on the Operator's land could impact the subject stream. "damage to wetlands" The operator has identified one small area within the gravel operation's permit boundary that contains some interspersed wetland species. The operator does not consider the area to be ajurisdictional wetland due to the influence of irrigation water. The area in question does not fall within the next 5 years of mining, is not transected by access roads and will be tested [o determine if it is a jurisdiction wetland prior to disturbance. 9. "...wildlife crossing the roads with more car damage due to deer crossing the roads." The lush hay field which exists on approximately 40 percent of the project area now will be replaced (as time goes by) with an equally attractive reclaimed grassland, offering deer no real added incentive to graze any more or less on either side of [he road. Initial disturbances may temporarily disrupt the grazing and movement of the local deer but will eventually cause the deer to remain more closely associated with the disturbance and C-6