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much lesser amounts of Needle and Thread, Junegrass, and Indian Ricegrass 2 to 18 inches high. The densest cover of grass and low shrubs on this soil type occur on the north side of property where they have been established by reclamation of the Red Canyon Coal Mine. The Ascalon Saandy Loam (soil map unit 8 on NRCS report) is found along the northwest draw and in the proposed processing azea. The cover here is I S to 20% Big Sage Brush and about 5% Bitter Brush to six feet tall with an average of about 4 feet. Low shrubs cover about 2% of this area. Pinion and juniper trees averaging about I S feet make up less than 2% cover in this area. Grasses up to about 18 inches and averaging about 6 inches cover about 10% of this soil type. The carrying capacity is calculated using the worst case of 800 pounds per acre annual production (NRCS report). A cow-calf consumes 1000 pounds per month. If grazing occurs at 30% and there is 800 pounds per acre of forage available, the cow-calf will eat 240 pounds per acre. 1000/240 = 4.2 acres per Animal Unit per month. If the cow-calf stays 12 months, 50.4 acres are required per Cow-calf Animal Unit. 25. Exhibit L has been revised to reflect changes above. 26. A bulldozer to spread overburden and topsoil has been added to the reclamation cost estimate. 27. The final bench will be created by sloping as material is removed so that no high-wall is created that requires cut and fill or total backfill. This will leave the resulting grade sloping down to the north so that topsoil replacement and final grading can be done without putting equipment on the south facing slope and the reclamation costs should not increase. 28. Reclamation costs have been recalculated using a D7 dozer as you recommend. 29. Damage waiver agreements with both signatures notarized are included with this submittal. 30. The geotechnical stability analysis from Revey Associates, Inc. is attached. 31. I will try to respond to each of the objection letters in the order they were submitted. Frances Lazear: Geologic hazazds are addressed by the Geotechnical Stability Analysis performed by Revey Associate, Inc. Groundwater Issues: We stand by the statement that no groundwater will be encountered on this site. All excavations will be well above the draw at the northwest comer of the property. There is no evidence that this draw intercepts any groundwater on the site. Diesel fuel on site will be contained inside a secondary containment structure as is common, accepted practice. Application of herbicides for weed control is common practice in Delta County and throughout the Western United States and is not known to contaminate groundwater when properly applied. The "wetlands" west of the property were created by drainage of the adjacent coal mine and are below excavations on this site. The operator will not use water from this mine drainage in this operation without proper investigation and approval from the State Engineer and a revision to this permit. Registered water welts in the azea as of 12/28/05 aze shown on the attached map with yield, depth and water level as reported to the State Engineer. The shallowest reported water level appears to be at 0 feet on the William C. Welch property just west of the intersection of Ward Creek Road and the Red Canyon Coal Mine Road, which is the access road to the Benson property. It is uncleaz whether this is an actual water level or represents unreported data, but mining excavations will be above this well site with the dry draw between the Welch property and the affected lands. Volume of truck traffic is a County issue and was addressed in the Delta County Specific Development process. The request by the objector to require