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<br />II. ISSUES RAISED BY OBJECTORS: <br /> <br />Issues raised by objecting parties are listed below, along with [he names of the objectors. The Division's response to <br />objection issues follows. Issues are listed under the application exhibit (application section) to which they pertain. <br />Issues not pertaining [o a specific application exhibit are listed next. issues [hat the Division believes are not within the <br />jurisdiction of the Division or Board are listed last. <br />ISSUES WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DIVISION AND BOARD <br />ISSUES RAISED DURING THE /NITIAL PUBLlC COMMENT PER/OD <br />Application Exhibit E- Reclamation Plan: <br />"No significant quantity of land proposed for reclamation. All the mined area will be multiple lakes (767 <br />acres) and essentially only the banks of these lakes will be reclaimed, which is a total of only 64 acres of the <br />entire site." <br />(Michael J Ptasnik; February 7, 2001) <br />Response- All remaining lakes must be reclaimed to meet the standards of 3.1.5(7) of the Construction Material <br />Rules and Regulations. Maximum slopes and slope combinations must be compatible with the selected land use <br />of recreation and wildlife habitat. Reclaimed pond slopes must be no steeper than a ratio of 2h:ly, except from 5 <br />feet above to ]0 feet below the expected water line where slopes shall be no steeper than 3h:ly. The applicant has <br />committed to these standards in the application, which is acceptable for the postmining land use of recreation. The <br />wildlife habitat areas will not be disturbed, therefore reclamation is not necessary. As long as the applicant secures <br />a well permit and a Substitute Supply Plan or Augmentation Plan to compensate for depletions due to evaporation <br />loss from the Office of the State Engineer, this plan meets the minimum standards. <br />"The proposed Reclamation Plan does not reFlect current benchmark practice and state-of--the-art design for mined <br />land reclamation." <br />(Scott, Brochard. Depratt, Odenbaugh, Reinick & Rippe; February 1I, 2001) <br />Response- The Construction Material Rules and Regulations require mine operators to achieve minimum standards <br />for reclamation. Such standards included steepest slope combinations compatible with the selected land use, topsoil <br />replacement and revegetation of the disturbed land. The applicant has proposed the minimum required reclamation <br />standards for the site. <br />3. "Environmental issues addressed in the application is vague and non-descriptive. An environmental impact <br />statement should be provided up front, bringing into play run-on, run-off, discharge, clean water act and NPDES <br />issues with solid solutions and goals/expectations." <br />(Michae! Decker; February 16, 2001) <br />Response- An Environmental lmpac[ Statement is not required [o be submitted to the Division in order [o obtain <br />a Mining and Reclamation Permit. However, the applicant does need to address surface water runoff issues, any <br />mine dewatering and state if an NPDES permit will be obtained. Such procedures are included in the proposed mine <br />plan to specifically address any off site impacts. The applicant has met the minimum standards addressing <br />protection of the surface water and groundwater for this operation. <br />Aoplication Exhibit G -Water Information: <br />4. "Concerned with groundwater impacts. Domestic water is from a well and the ground is sub irrigated from the water <br />level. Possible impacts to the water table level and loss of the domestic well...depriving us of water." <br />(Kathryn A. Hardin; February .i, 2001) <br />