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Rationale for Approval Recommation • May 8, 2001 <br />Four States Aggregates, LLC <br />Line Camu Pit. File No. M-2001-001 <br />9. The period of active extraction shou/d be shortened. <br />The mining plan indicates that the period of active extraction may occur for up to six <br />years. However, Rule 6.4.4(e) states that an operator shall not be required to meet <br />specific dates for initiation, or completion of a mining phase as may be identified in the <br />application. A permitted operation may continue, providing the operation remain in <br />compliance with the approved permit conditions, the Act and Rules. <br />f0. Pit abandonment prior to rec/amation is not uncommon. <br />DMG records do not support this allegation. The Act and Rules provide reclamation <br />requirements to ensure that affected lands are reclaimed to a beneficial land use. Any <br />operator of a permitted operation is obligated to satisfy the performance standards of Rule <br />3.1. Financial warranty cannot be released and the permit terminated until reclamation <br />has been completed in accordance with the performance standards of Rule 3.1, and in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan, and all applicable sections of the Act and <br />Rules. <br />11. The Ru/es do not define 'post-mining /and use" What is a 'i/eveloped water <br />resource"? The post-mining /and use is not appropriate. <br />Rule 3.1.1 addresses establishing the post-mining land use. Rule 3.1.1(1) and 12- states <br />that in consultation with the Landowner, where possible, and subject to the approval of <br />the Board or Office, the Operator shall choose how the affected lands shall be reclaimed. <br />These decisions can be for forest, range, crop, horticultural, homesite, recreational, <br />industrial, or other uses, including food, shelter and ground cover for wildlife. The results <br />of these decisions shall be formulated into a reclamation plan, as specified in Rule 6.4.4 <br />or 6.4.5, as required for the size and type of operation. Page 2 of the Board approved <br />regular 1 12 permit application form expands the list of post-mining land use options. <br />These options include cropland, rangeland, residential, developed water resources <br />(ponds-, pastureland, forestry, recreation, general agriculture, wildlife habitat, <br />industrial/commercial, and solid waste disposal. <br />The post-mining land use is the beneficial final land use, selected by the operator, that <br />reclamation of affected lands must support. As indicated in the Line Camp Pit <br />application, the applicant has selected to reclaim affected lands to support developed <br />water resources (ponds) and pastureland post-mining land use. <br />Several of the objecting parties had indicated that the reclamation plan was not adequate <br />because it did not address restoration of the land to its natural pre-mining state or provide <br />wildlife habitat or recreational opportunities for the people of Colorado. <br />The applicant, in consultation with the landowner, has not selected wildlife habitat or <br />recreation post-mining land use. Therefore, the reclamation plan is not required to <br />6 <br />