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As previously stated, earlier operations were under different requirements and the river <br />behavior was not well understood by anyone at that time. Four Corners has committed to <br />mining no deeper than 6645' and monitoring the river through fixed cross-sections which <br />are to be surveyed annually. Concerning the long term plan, Four Corners Materials would <br />consider removing the dike berm east of the current extraction area, thus making for a <br />shallower, more stable river channel put in at its historic grade. Any holes remaining from <br />old mining would be filled at that time. This wider channel will be better in flood <br />behavior and erosion control. The COE and DMG all agree that this should be done. It is <br />the hope of Four Corners Materials that this can be accomplished after studies are done <br />and a sustainable gravel harvest plan can be developed and approved by the agencies <br />involved. <br />6) Letter from John Ott of Las Animas Ditch Company <br />We are sorry that Mr. Ott felt left out of the notification for the lake mining plan. The <br />DMG rules state that we notify all landowners within 200 feet of the permit boundary. <br />From the County records, the ditch company does not show up as a landowner. Also, we <br />never even considered that the ditch could possibly be affected by the lake mining since <br />the lake will be considerably downstream of the ditch and the operation will not pump any <br />water from the lake and will not draw down water from the ditch. The steps described <br />earlier show how there will be no negative effects from river mining due to the <br />commitment of not mining below the fixed extraction level. <br />The comment made that ditch water cannot be used for operation dust control is correct. <br />We are modifying those pages of the permit to state that all water for the operation will <br />come from the existing well located adjacent to the storage building on the permit area, <br />(owned by Thompson the landowner) or from the Animas Water Company tap which has a <br />number of hydrants on the site. <br />Letter from Rick Mayo <br />The concerns for impact on riverbanks have already been discussed. With regard to <br />wildlife and riparian issues, the proposed plan will actually increase riparian habitat since <br />the entire perimeter of the lake will be lined with wetland plants for waterfowl habitat. <br />None of this currently exists. Please remember that awell-designed lake is to replace <br />three abandoned sewage ponds. Water quality will be maintained since the operation will <br />pump water into a settling pond that will eventually discharge into the river under a strict <br />NPDES permit. This operation will only be active for 2 months and the lake will fill to <br />equilibrium and no further discharges will take place. <br />With regard to a setback of the lake from the property line, the top edge of the lake will <br />4 <br />