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<br />Summary of Nine Reasons from December 24, 2003 Report: <br />1) The operator drilled 6 holes in the permit azea in March of 2003, while irrigafion was <br />not active, showing good gravel depths. <br />2) A drill hole was placed in the northeast portion of the permit azea on September 8, <br />2003 to a depth of 65 feet while irrigation was at peak. Water was initially encountered at <br />a depth of 55 feet and was measured one day later to be 53 feet from the surface. <br />3) A detailed inspection of the Mesa slope to the lower terrace was made by Greg <br />Lewicki on December 3, 2003. There is no salt from springs or vegetation anywhere on <br />the slopes that may indicate water has ever emanated from the slope itself. <br />4) The Western Gravel Metcalf Pit, located within 1/4 mile east of the proposed <br />operation, has mined the slope edge of the upper terrace and has created a highwall of <br />approximately 20 to 40 feet high in the gravel with no water ever being seen emanating <br />from the highwall. <br />5) A backhoe excavation hole was conducted by the operator in the north central part of <br />Phase 1 in eazly September of 2003, while imgation was in full swing. The hole was dug <br />to a total depth of 20.0 feet with no water or shale encountered. <br />6) United Companies of Mesa County operates the Spring Creek Mesa Pit located in the <br />same gravel terrace deposit as the Halderson pit, only 2/3 mile from the Phase 1 azea of <br />Haldorson. The mine has dug an excavation of approximately 55 feet and has not <br />encountered any water. <br />7) The Applehanz $ase Products Pit is located immediately east of the United Spring <br />Creek operation. This pit is also operating in gravel of the upper terrace on Spring Creek <br />Mesa. Excavation at this site is more than 40 feet at its maximum and has also never <br />encountered water to this depth. <br />8) The Western Gravel North R-34 Pit is located on the lower terrace approximately %z <br />mile northeast of Phase 1 of the Haldorson Pit. This pit was excavated to a depth of <br />approximately 20 feet. No shale was encountered and the steady ground water level is <br />approximately 6 to 7 feet from the surface with little fluctuation from irrigation season to <br />dry season. It should be noted that the lower terrace is 50' to 60' below the upper terrace, <br />where the Haldorson Pit would be located. <br />9) Since the long term Haldorson operation contemplates mining a portion of the terrace <br />to slopes of 3H:1 V, the operation will then leave a depression in the landscape. For very <br />large runoff events; the depression after mining wilt capture excess floodwater and <br />prevent damage to azeas east and north of the site and preventing erosion of the slope <br />between the Spring Creek Mesa and the lower terrace. <br />