PERMFILE50641 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED PIT OPERATIONS FOREST SERVICE PIT INDEPENDENCE PASS This proposed pit is for a source of sand and gravel for highway work in the Independence Pass area. The pit size is 5.6 acres. The pit is located approximately 12 miles southeast of Aspen on Highway 82 at an elevation of 10,500 feet and is located on Forest Service land. The area is a glacial deposit of sand and gravel located above the elevation of the Roaring Fork River. The area to be excavated is covered mainly with lodgepole pine with some low brush. There is very little soil overburden over the sand and gravel. There- fore, there will not be much of this material available for reclamation purposes. The area is an old pit site that has been used over the years for highway work in the area. The pit area is fairly well screened from Highway 82 by pine trees. It is planned to plant more trees to improve the screening. • Excavation of the pit is to be from the east to the west leaving a slight slope to the south in the pit floor. Back slopes will be left no steeper than 2:1. The contractor may use the equipment he thinks best suited to excavate the pit. The excavated sand and gravel will be crushed and stockpiled for processing through an asphalt mixing plant. All usable soil overburden will be saved and stockpiled for use in reclaiming the pit. Small trees, twelve inches in height or small- er, will be removed from the area to be excavated and planted in a storage area for later use in reclamation work. Any rock too large to be crushed will be buried in the pit slope. The area may be used at different times. After each use the area that .is depleated of usable material will be reclaimed. Reclama- tion will be completed as stated in the reclamation plan and the Forest Service Special Use Permit. Truck traffic will increase on Highway 82 when material is being hauled from the pit to the construction area. Traffic will be controled by flagging and possibly the use of pilot cars in some areas. All rules and regulations will be followed concerning air pollu- tion control, water pollution control and forest protection.