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The La Plata County Municipal Code does not contain specific criteria to be used in evaluating an application for <br />a sand and gravel facility. For the purpose of this evaluation, Section 90-108, Review Criteria of the code list <br />five criteria for oil and gas development that is closely related to the request to expand the Thomas Gravel Pit. <br />A response to each of the criteria follows: <br />(1) Need. The demonstrated need for the facility, in the location proposed, to serve the appGcanYs <br />existing development, production and operational requirements. <br />RESPONSE -The Thomas Gravel Pit has been meeting the areas sand and gravel needs since 1930 <br />when sand and gravel was removed from the site for use as construction materials for US Highway <br />550. The operations at the site do not create new activity, but respond to the existing and future <br />customers with the area. <br />Whenever community area planning occurs, it is imperative to take into account the fadthe aggregate <br />industry is simply responding to a demand that is created with public improvements, residential and <br />non-residential growth patterns in the vicinity of the resource. Wdhout realistic land use planning which <br />takes into account the aggregate business. The area could become impacted with additional traffic as <br />Vucks transport construction and maintenance materials for outside areas. It is important for land use <br />plans to include local sources of aggregate materials which are vital in creating and mairdaining health <br />communities. <br />The following minimum aggregate requirements are based on data generated by various governmental <br />entities: <br />- An average sized house requires 125 tons of sand and gravel product to construct. <br />- A national per capita requirement for maintaining existing public infrastructure is about 10 <br />tons per year. <br />- One cubic yard of concrete contains about 1.8 tons of aggregate resource. <br />- Atypical mile of new county road requires approximately 7,000 tons of sand and gravel. <br />- One mile of new State Highway requires about 42,500 tons of aggregate. <br />- Asphalt and concrete rubble are 100 percent recyclable. <br />By using the above presented data, it is apparentthat a need exists for quality sand and gravel resources in the <br />area. <br />(2) Suitability. Suitability of the location of the proposed facility given its size. Design and <br />operational characteristic. Factors to be considered include noise levels, impacts upon airand <br />water quality, vibration and odor levels, fire protec[ion and access requirements, visual impacts, <br />wildlife impacts and public safety. <br />RESPONSE -The natural system in the area was somewhat affect when the operationswas established many <br />years ago. The prior impacts are mitigated with environmental enhancement efforts adjacenttothe riverwhich <br />include the removal of an abandoned waste water treatment facility and river bank stabilization and planting. <br />Other impacts will not change if the requested expansion is granted, as long as the following impact mfigation <br />measures continue within the operations area: <br />