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You state that excess materials ntay be backfilled, presumably into the ponds at Cheir margins. Please note that material backfilled into a pit below water line, with no benefit of compacting, should not be considered as stable as unmined material lying below the water line. Therefore, without providing information distinguishing exactly what types of materials may be backfilled nor an engineering evaluation of the potential for slope failure of these materials, the Division cannot approve a slope gradient steeper than 3: 1, for backfilled, submerged materials. Additionally, how will any backfilling activity be carried out, so that maxintunt slopes are not exceeded? Please comment. (Please note that if backfilling is to occur on drvland or strictly on the pit floor, these issues are moot.) The existing landform is fairly level, which indicates thaC [he resulting pond slope lengths ma}• be fairl}• uniform around the margins (a detail to be utilized in our reclamation cost estimate). However, the depth to groundwater is not specified in dte application, nor is the seasonal variation in water level. Please clarify these points. The topsoil will be stripped prior to excavating the ponds. The amounts of topsoil salvaged need only be sufficient to "plate' the inslopes down to the water level and other "non-road" areas for reclamation. Topsoil salv'ged for this purpose is to be windrowed along some of the pond margins. Do your maps show all of the topsoil stockpile areas? Please 6e aware that if there are final pond margins along which no topsoil has been stockpiled, the bond amount for replacement will be higher, since it will involve a haul cost in addition to a cost for simply pushing it a short distance. Please comment. What will be the seed mix and application rate for temporary protection of topsoil stockpiles? (Please note that sufficient topsoil must be retained onsi[e for all of the total dryland areas which currently require topsoil replacement at an}• time during the operation. Therefore, the stockpiled amount may be reduced as the currently-active pond groves. Likewise, the respective costs for the revegetation aspect of the reclamation plan will probably vary as the pond size changes.) Though it is not stated specifically in this exhibit, the timetable shown on the mining plan map indicates that t}te four ponds ("cells") will be excavated one at a time, with no overlap in years noted. Please describe to what extent reclamation will be accomplished, or finished, at one pond before disturbance begins at the next one. The utility corridor crosses the site between the area to be excavated and the stockpile and rail spur area. The mining plan map states that a "non-mining" buffer will be maintained in the utility location, though it is clear that hauling operations must cross that buffer. This buffer is shown to be partly outside the permitted area boundary, and partly inside the boundary. Please describe any activities you plan to undertake to mitigate possible damage to buried utilities and to overhead lines and poles, pertaining to haul road and/or rail spur construction and use. I will explore the need for notarized damage agreements under Exhibit S below. Similar questions exist for damage mitigation activities for impacts to roads and ditches on the property, which are owned by the landowner/operator, or other entity, and for stream crossings on the property. Will there be filled or culverted drainagevvays under haul roads or the rail spur? Please clarify. It appears as though you have submitted }•our plan (to excavate ponds and build a rail spur) to the county for obtaining a conditional use permit. Has the county approved the building of the rail spur? If so, it is presumed [hat the county has reviewed a plan of sufficient detail to ensure that the spur will serve the purposes of conveying aggregate to the rail line. Likewise, since your reclamation plan states that the spur will remain, it is presumed that [he county approves of this post-mining use. Is this the case? Please comment. You plan to crush, screen and wash aggregate, all of which are to occur in the area shown as central to the four cells. This processing area will be reduced to about 4.5 acres as the cells gradually encroach and surround it. Will there be sufficient space available for haul roads, mining equipment, processing equipment, product stockpiles, and possibly topsoil stockpiles, in this area? Will there be any berming of roads or pads for stormwater or water quality reasons'? Please comment.