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included in the County Special Uae Permit. Times of operation have produced objections from individuals residing near the operation end es such it is important that this information be presented clearly. RfiCLAMATION PLAN DETAILS The information presented in the amendment application indicates some degree of uncertainty regarding whether the mined out phase 5, 6, & 7 area will fill with water and form a pond at. the conclusion of mining. As such, the reclamation plan should cover both scenarios, discussing specific reclamation activities that would occur for a dry pit and for a pond scenario. Grading work on the pit sides & bottom, topsoil replacement (shore.line areas only versus the entire pit area), and revegetation details may differ substantially for each scenario. The reclamation plan end reclamation cost sections of the amendment application may need to be modified to include reclamation of any drainage control structures such as detention ponds and diversion or collection ditches that are installed in accordance with the approved stromwater management plan for the operation. Please clarify. It would appear that, due to the highly compacted nature of working areas and the relatively shallow topsoil replacement depth, a more substantial degree of compacted area ripping would be an essential component of the reclamation plan in order to ensure adequate rooting depth and successful revegetation of affected areas to meet the proposed post-mining land use. Typical scarification methods such as chisel plowing often are limited to a few inches; ii. would seem that ripping to a depth of 2 ft. or more prior to tnpsoll replacement would ensure adequate rooting depth. Please address this issue. TOPSOIL A section of the amendment application states that "For the majority of the area to be affected, little topsoil was salvaged from the previous mining activities". This statement. gener•ai.es a r_oncern regarding whether there is sufficient topsoil material remaining within the proposed affected area to achieve successful revegetation of the site to tl~e proposed post-mining land use. Tt would be beneficial to have some approximation of both the size of the area(s) devoid of topsoil due to historic mining activities and the average depth and resulting quantities of topsoil avF~ilable for salvage from remaining undisturbed areas. If sufficient quantities of topsoil are not available to ensure successful revegetation, then it may be nef_essary to incorporate some type of soil amendments into the reclamation plan. Please edclress this concern. Additionally, the application states that "Topsoil m~ be salvaged from a portion of the permit as the pit is expanded in the 3