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Rationale for Recommendation for Approval, Over Objections; Regular 112 <br />Construction Materials Conversion Application, <br />King Mountain Gravel, LLC. <br />King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine, Permit No. M-1978-314 <br />December 8, 2006 <br />Introduction <br />On March 15, 2005, the Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety ("Division's issued its approval for the 112 <br />Construction Materials Conversion Application ("CN-01'~ for the King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine. King <br />Mountain Gravel, LLC (the "Applicant's failed to adequately submit a bond within one calendaz year of approval <br />of CN-01. Therefore, the Division required the Applicant to re-notice the application in accordance with the <br />notification and comment provisions of Rule 1.6 of the Construction Materials Rules and Regulations ("Rules"). <br />Objections were received during the re-notice comment period. <br />This document is intended to provide a basis for the Division's recommended approval over various concerns and <br />objections to the Application, File No. M-1978-314. <br />CN-O1 was found complete and considered filed with the Division on November 23, 2004. The site is located <br />seven miles southwest of Toponas in Routt County, Colorado. The property is located in Section 14, Township 1 <br />North, Range 85 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian. <br />CN-01 increases the permit azea from 9.9 acres to 341 acres. However, the operator intends to mine only 184 of <br />the 341 acres. The property is located on a glacial terrace, and the gravel reserve ranges from ten feet deep on the <br />eastern side of the property to 100 feet deep on the western side. The site will be mined in four sections ranging in <br />size from 20 to 67 acres. The active mining area will not exceed 35 acres at any given time. As mining progresses, <br />completed azeas will be topsoiled and reseeded to minimize the amount of disturbed area. The pit will be dry- <br />mined, and topsoil will be stripped prior to mining in each phase. The operator commits to staying five feet above <br />the seasonal high groundwater elevation confirmed by monthly groundwater monitoring by five piezometers. <br />The proposed post-mined land use for the site is rangeland habitat. The site contains a yeaz-round habitat and <br />breeding ground for the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and the Greater Sage Grouse. There is a small, <br />concentrated population of Greater Sage Grouse present in the azea and the proposed site is located within its <br />lrnown habitat azea. The site will be reclaimed to maintain a suitable habitat for Greater Sage Grouse. The pit <br />slopes will be reclaimed to 3h:ly, and topsoil will be replaced to a depth of four inches. The azea will be <br />revegetated with a seed mixture recommended by the Colorado Division of Wildlife ("CDOW") that is specific for <br />Sage Grouse habitat. <br />I. Objections: <br />The Division received objections from the following individuals and organizations during the renotification public <br />comment period, which ended on June 12, 2006, <br />