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a mining operation on State land. The primary impact of the Stewardship Trust classification is a <br />need to at leas[ preserve the qualities of the land that warrant its placement in this classification. In <br />the case of a mining operation, it is important that the reclamation essentially replace, at the <br />minimum, the various qualities that were there prior to mining. In addition, if improvements in the <br />original qualities can be implemented and those improvements compliment the classification <br />qualities then there is an expectation that those improvements be implemented. Therefore, the <br />future of this operation requires careful attention to producing a reclamation product that at least <br />replaces, on the affected land, the values that were there before mining. Although this is not quite a <br />restoration standard, in contrast to reclamation, it is close to a restoration requirement. <br />Under the mined land reclamation laws, restoration is not often expected, although it can be <br />implemented if the mine operator desires to go that far. Therefore, this Amendment 3, for the most <br />part, goes well beyond the minimum requirements and expectations under the mined land <br />reclamation laws and rules. In this case though this "enhancement" is not a choice made by the <br />operator. It is a requirement of the land classification as part of a law passed by the citizens of <br />Colorado. In essence, if one is to mine on Stewardship Trust land then the requirements of the <br />Stewardship Trust classification determines what must be done in the reclamation process rather <br />than the requirements set by the reclamation laws. On the other hand, none of the Stewardship <br />Trust expectations conflict with provisions in the reclamation laws. Therefore, compliance with <br />one does not create a situation of non-compliance with the other, so long as the Stewardship Trust <br />expectations are maintained as the master requirements guiding reclamation. If only the minimum <br />Reclamation Permit requirements were implemented then some of the Stewardship Trust <br />requirements would not be achieved. Thus, the expectations of the law that established the <br />Stewardship Trust classification would not be achieved. <br />Type of material and importance - Materials produced at this site are exclusively sand <br />products. These materials are highly favored for specific uses including pipe bedding, high quality <br />fill around new buildings on shrink-swell soils, golf courses, and masonry sand. Many of these <br />specific uses are best served by this specific type of sand as this sand exhibits unique properties. <br />Although this sand deposit is a blend of alluvial and aeolian sands, the alluvial sands are <br />especially favored. These sands exhibit a rather rounded grain, whereas many other sands produced <br />in the Front Range Urban Corridor have a more angular grain. The advantage of the rounded grain <br />when used in fill or golf courses is the fact that it is difficult to compact the sand. When placed, <br />considerable air space exists because the grains tend to be more or less round. Therefore the grains <br />do not fit against each other tightly the way more angular sand does. Of course, no sand compacts <br />-ii- <br />