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8. Rio Blanco Count~Impacts and Environmental Impacts <br />The current mining operation is basically invisible to the surrounding area to the west, south and east <br />due to the leaving of a 20' high natural berm in this area. This berm will remain in place until the <br />very end of the operation, when it will be mined out to achieve a final flat grade of the site. See time <br />schedule in the mining plan. Helping in minimizing visibility for areas to the north is the fact that the <br />operation will only be mining one strip at a time and will be reclaiming the previous strip at the same <br />time, thus keeping disturbance to a minimum throughout the mining area. <br />Although the sand/gravel annual production rate is given as maximum of 250,000 tons per year, <br />most years will see much less activity. The higher rate is needed to handle occasional big jobs such <br />as an airport expansion, which is in the interest of the County. As described in the above mining <br />plan, the sediment pond will contain all mnoff so that no sediment will leave the site and cloud any <br />downstream waters. <br />The Berry Pit will be reclaimed to part dry rangeland and part wildlife habitat, which are the pre- <br />mine uses of the lands. United will work closely with Division of Wildlife, the County, the landown- <br />ers and the DMG to ensure that the reclamation plan is the best possible for achieving the post-min- <br />ingland use. Portable sanitation facilities will be provided to all workers at the minesite. The waste <br />will be taken off site for treatment in an approved facility. There will be no leach fields or other <br />means of sewage disposal. <br />There will be no new demands on Rio Blanco County services from the additional extraction areas. <br />All tracks leaving the site will be covered will not be allowed to track mud on Highway 13. Trucks <br />may supply demands in any direction once they enter Highway 13. <br />This gravel pit has been in place for many years and has a special use permit from Rio Blanco <br />County. United will work with the irrigation ditch company in monitoring for any increase in seep- <br />age along the wall of the pit due to the operation. If any additional seepage occurs, United will cover <br />the cost of mitigating this increase. <br />Berry Pit 3/02 13 <br />