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USR APPLICATION <br />Statements <br />The proposed use is consistent with the Weld County Comprehensive Plan. Sand and <br />gravel mining is currently taking place directly south and further east of the Riverbend Site. <br />The Riverbend property has been historically used as pastureland and for oil and gas <br />production. The extraction of sand and gravel resources will not result in the loss of prime <br />agricultural land. <br />A portion of the Riverbend property is located within the Ft. Lupton designated urban <br />growth boundary. Post mining conditions will be compatible with existing and proposed <br />adjacent land uses. Adequate offsets will be maintained along riparian habitat areas and <br />waterways to minimize impacts by the proposed mining areas. Following mining, the <br />Riverbend site will provide significant wildlife habitat as well as an enhanced landscape <br />and visual aesthetic. <br />The operator, Lafarge West, Inc., will continue to provide tax revenues and employment <br />opportunities to the area. In addition, the Riverbend sand and gravel operation does not <br />require county resources; rather, the operation provides significant aggregate resources <br />needed to meet the growth demands of the area. <br />No productive agricultural lands in the "A" zone district will be lost due to the proposed <br />mining operation associated with the Riverbend property. <br />All mining and processing operations will be carried out in accordance with applicable <br />permits. The project is not anticipated to pose risks to the health and safety of local <br />residents of Weld County. <br />This property lies within the South Platte River floodplain (per FIRM map panel numbers <br />080266 0981C and 080266 0983C, dated September 28, 1982). In accordance with the <br />Weld County Zoning Ordinance, the existing Riverbend mining operation has a Flood <br />Hazard Development Permit. The existing FHDP is included with this USR amendment <br />application. The existing FHDP will be amended. An application to amend the FHDP will <br />be submitted shortly. <br />The proposed mining is not anticipated to have adverse impacts on local flood hazard <br />potential. The post-mining ponds will increase local flood storage capacity and reduce <br />downstream flood hazards. <br />The proposed expansion area does not ]ie in the airport overlay or geologic hazard overlay <br />districts. <br />Existing water supplies, see purchased water rights in attached Warranty Deed, are <br />adequate for processing operations. <br />Lafarge Wes(, lnc..-Riverbend <br />Weld County USR Permit <br />Page 9 of 4L <br />