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"The sand and grave! resources to be mined at this site are obviously best described as the <br />Mesa C/ay Loam, map symbol MIA soils. Only they have been found to have up to 250 inches of <br />sandy, gravely alluvial deposits (lacking significant humus and clay "fines") in the subsoil, beneath <br />1 to 1Yz feet of the described surface soils. The sub-surface soil has no significant content of <br />powdered caliche. Topsoil is confined to about a foot to a half-foot of silty day loam. M/B Mesa <br />Clay Loam occurred in a small north portion of the site before it was completely removed in prior <br />gravel extraction operations. MoA and Mob Mesa Gravelly Clay Loam soils are talis on the <br />mesa sidesfopes over the rim of the mesa and not involved in the proposed operation." <br />15) Big sage is the predominant vegetation on undisturbed, relatively flat mesa-top, soil azeas of <br />this site, yet it only attains an average height of up to 24 inches, and density is relatively <br />spazce, apazently due to the low moisture content of the otherwise relatively fertile "mesa <br />clay loam" soils. Native grasses aze spazce. SCS Soil and vegetation descriptions do not list <br />an estimated carrying capacity, except that it is in the "Capacity unit VIe-I" for unirrigated <br />lands. <br />16) Apparently the shallow sloped mesa top supports the deep-rooted big sage due to its inherent <br />ability to reach stored moisture in the pervious gravelly subsoils at the expense of the less <br />tolerant grasses, which cannot sustain as well during spring and eazly summer dry periods. <br />17) A listed azchaeological consultant, C.A.S.A., of Cortez, CO, was consulted concerning the <br />matter of the Shawano Cemetary. The grave sites of course enjoy a traditional protection <br />stattus, however SHPO has no particulaz clearance or setback criterion for azeas outside the <br />defined cemetary azea. Montrose County land use regulations do require the specified 25- <br />foot setback from neighboring properties. Although ownership of both the mined property <br />and of the cemetary is with Montrose County, the County engineering staff considers the two <br />uses to be uniquely different and honors the cemetazy as a sepazate property, subject to the <br />specified setback. Special barricades aze to be employed during extraction operations to <br />avoid accidental over-run by heavy equipment in that vicinity. <br />18) Structures within 200 feet of the affected lands have been listed and addressed in the <br />amended "Exhibit S" per Rule 6.4.19 [as reported in Items (1) and (4), above]. <br />19) Complete ownership of the Shawano Cemetary is confirmed to be Montrose County, per <br />Montrose County Book of Records. <br />Please telephone me if further information, clazification or discussion is necessary for <br />consideration ofthis application. The required re-publication, County Board & SCD notices, and <br />mailed notices are being currently sent, and confirmation shall be forwazded to you under <br />separate cover with the changes in the application form and exhibits. The property posted notice <br />is still current. <br />Sincerely, <br />GEOLOGICAL SERVICES <br />Dough. onger, ~ogist <br />Agent for the Applicant <br />Attachments: Amended Amendment Application Exhibits C, D, E, G, & ~; Form <br />Cc: Grand Junction Field Office <br />101 South Third Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 <br />