PERMFILE63778

• Permit No: M1996049
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 1/23/1997
• Doc Name: PUBLIC NOTICE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Number
excavation of waters of the U.S. for aggregate removal. The applicant will also schedule
any construction adjacent to waters of the U.S. to avoid periods of snowmelt run-off, or
prolonged rain periods, execute controlled phasing of each cell excavation, apply an
effective drainage plan for the site, and implement sediment and erosion control measures.
The applicant has also proposed "a wetlands mitigation plan ... to compensate for the 3.31
acres of unavoidable wetlands impacts." This plan will be completed concurrent with the
construction of the operations site and completed prior to the start of mining. The wetlands
mitigation plan includes the following: (1) Creation of 6.62 acres of wetlands in the
northern portion of the permit area; (2) Restoration of approximately 1,800-foot segment of
Maryland Creek (including about 0.5 acre of wetlands creation); (3) Restoration of portions
of Sheep and Vendette creeks; (4) Hydrologic restoration of existing wetlands in the
northern portion of the site; (5) Hydrologic restoration and water control at an existing
spring wetland; (6) Cessation of grazing on the wetlands on the site; (7) Fencing of
mitigation and other wetlands on the site to prevent grazing; and (8) Placement of mitigation
wetlands (6.62 acres) and lazge expansion of wetlands on the northern portion of the site in
a deed restriction. Additional information on the mitigation plan may viewed at our Grand
Junction, Colorado office.
AREA DESCRIPTION: The Maryland Creek Ranch dates back to the late 1800's
producing cattle, hay, and other agricultural products and service. The proposed mine
operation is located on a relatively flat, irrigated meadow/pasture underlain by alluvium
(lower terrace) and glacial drift (upper terrace). The wetlands impact area in this permit
application is dominated by Carex rostrata, Carex nebrascensis, A¢rostis alba, and
Deschampsia cespitosa. Pasture grasses and upland forbs occur adjacent to and in drier
portions of the wetlands, and include Poa rap tennis, Achillea lanulosa, Taraxicum officinale,
Dac lis glomerate, Bromus inermis, and Trifolium spp.
ADDTITONAL INFORMATION:
The applicant has requested water quality certification from the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division in accordance with Section
401 of the Clean Water Act. Written comments on water quality certification should be
submitted to Mr. John Farrow, Planning and Standards Section, Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive
South, Denver, Colorado, 80222-1530, on or before February 22, 1997.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control
Division also reviews each project with respect to the anti-degradation provision in state
regulations. For the project which is the subject of this public notice, the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division has
preliminarily determined this project will cause temporary changes in water quality due to
the wetlands impacts.
For further information regarding anti-degradation provision, please contact Mr. Farrow at
the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control
Division, telephone [phone].