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<br />Memo to PCPC <br />Re: SUP 596 <br />August 20, 1987 <br />Page Five <br /> <br />cutting off existing meanders, effectively straightening the <br />river course. In reality, those changes could occur naturally <br />over the decades that the mining operation may extend. <br />Conversely, natural changes over that same period may necessitate <br />rechanneling not now envisioned. <br />Any changes made by Valco in the location of the Arkansas River, <br />whether to create a new channel or to maintain an existing one, <br />would first require the issuance of a 404 permit by the COE. A <br />404 permit is limited to 10 years. It may be extended or the <br />operator may reapply. Either approach offers an opportunity to <br />review the operator's plans and performance. The County will be <br />notified of any such applications. Public hearings can be <br />conducted by the COE prior to issuing or renewing a 404 permit. <br />ACCESS PERMITS <br />Valco's proposed activities under SUP #596 will require highway <br />access permits from the Colorado Department of Highways. The <br />need for such a permit for the batch plant access surfaced while <br />Subdivision Exemption 86-4 was being reviewed. Valco has <br />submitted an application for a highway access permit and <br />committed to installing needed improvements, including <br />acceleration and deceleration lanes on Highway 50. The access <br />permit was approved. Prior to the permit actually being issued, <br />Valco expressed Its concerns that the traffic counts used for <br />planned roadway improvements were too low. Those concerns and <br />their design implications have delayed the permitting process. <br />Consequently, Valco does not yet have a valid access permit for <br />the East Batch Plant. <br />The batch plant access permit will serve the early needs of the <br />SUP. As the operation expands, the need for further access will <br />grow, if for no other reason then to enable Valco to fully <br />reclaim lands that they disturb early in the operation. Mr. Earl <br />Brubaker Sndicated to staff that he anticipates the eventual need <br />for access to Baxter Road and 36th Lane, both of which will <br />require state highway access permits. <br />Concentrating Valco's truck and equipment <br />vastly preferable to relying routinely on <br />are advantages in terms of safety, public <br />offsite noise. However, that approach wo <br />Valco's ability to legally and physically <br />the Arkansas River. <br />traffic on-site is <br />of£-site roads. There <br />road impacts, and <br />31d often depend on <br />rechannel portions of <br />