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Mining Plan The first aerial photo of the site that has been found was taken in ]947. 'T'hen the operation was more or less in the middle of the current mining area and located rather high on the mountainside. The operational area at that time is estimated at 15 to 20 acres, including the various support activities at the base of the mountainside. Thus, as early as 1947 adver;se visual impact was occurring. But the city was located far to the southeast and therefore the operation was not very noticeable. In the mid-1950's the site expanded to very nearly its current dimensions. The site was the primary aggre€;ate source used th constructing the United States Air Force Academy. About 1900, upon completion of that project, the site was essentially abandoned. The site was then under ownership of Golden Cycle. Very little mining occurred between about 1960 and 1969. In 1969 Castle Concrete leased the site from Golden Cycle. Little if any reclamation occurred after the Air Force Academy Project. There is ;some evidence that some seeding occurred on certain portions of the site, but most of the site was left in its post mining condition. Nearly all subsequent vegetation growth on the quarry itsel F has developed through invasion of native vegetation into the rock rubble left after mining. Initially, Castle Concrete produced aggregate from existing stockpiles left after the Air Force Academy project. Actual quarrying did not begin until late in 1970 or early 1971. Shortly after the start of Castle Concrete quarrying the company purchased the site from Golden Cycle. Much of the disturbed land at the site today was disturbed before Castle Concrete began its operations. oily a small piece of land on the extreme north end of the operation was• additionally disturbed by Castle. Although no detailed maps of Ure site exist from the period. around 1970, photographs indicate that only about 5 acres of land has been additionally disturbed. by Castle Concrete since the company began operations. Since the early 1980's reclamation. work around the vase of the operation has reduced the total amount of disturbed land that was: present when the company began operations. However, most of the high visibility land has nol: been totally reclaimed. Therefore, from a distance, Ute operation appears to have as much visual impact as it did over 20 years ago. The primary effect of Castle Concrete's mining has been to change the pattern on the: surface. When the site was essentially abandoned about 1960 the surface was steeply sloping; stripped limestone. No soil was present where mining had occurred and vegetation cover was; essentially absent. Slope gradients were generally steeper than 2:1 and in many places vertical cliffs had been left. ~- Page 2 Pikeview puarry Amendment Exhibit D