2002-03-04_REVISION - M1986015 (8)

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MINING PLAN aggregates produced there will be processed at this location. It is also possible that this plant will process aggregates produced at other sites disjointed from this permit. As indicated in the Mining Methods section of this exhibit, conveyors will provide the primary method of supplying the plant site. This is a more efficient method of transporting the aggregates from the mining location to the processing plant. Trucks tend to create too much dust for more urban areas such as this, sometimes produce too much noise, and are often more expensive to operate in the long run. Wash fines will be disposed of in accordance with the plan described previously under the section titled Dewatering. Please refer to that section for a description of that plan. It is important to point out that the concrete batch plant located to the north of the processing plant is not a part of this mining operation. It is owned and operated by Transit Mix of Pueblo, the permittee, but it is not a part of the mining operation. The batch plant can and often does receive its aggregate from other sources, but this mining operation can also provide aggregate to the batch plant. Although the batch plant is within the permit area, it should be considered an independent facility. The main reason the land where the batch plant is located is included in the permit is because of the access road to the mining operation, the scale to serve the operation, and the possibility that product stockpiling from the mining operation will occur near the batch plant. Those uses are considered affected land and are therefore included in this permit. There is an excellent possibility that the batch plant will outlive the mining operation. The batch plant was located on this property many years before the current cycle of mining was begun. It continued to produce concrete even though no mining was done on this site and is therefore considered to be an independent facility that is not specifically subject to the reclamation plan requirements. Timetables of Operation Although two phases are shown on the maps, only Phase 1 is planned for mining. As described elsewhere, Phase 2 will be planned later and the approval of that phase will be included in the permit through the appropriate action, probably an amendment. The plan for Phase 2 will be based upon what is learned in mining Phase 1. Phase 1 will be a continuous, highly integrated operation. There is no particular value in defining "operational areas at any one time:' This is apparent from the prior descriptions of how the site will be mined. In effect, the mining will begin as a rather Pueblo East Pit Amendment Exhibit D Page 11