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This distance should close as the .operation proceeds. It is realized that con- temporaneous reclamation is important, but sufficient room needs to be allowed to provide for operations subsequent to mining. A plan is being developed to remove processing and stockpiling at the operation itself. Once such a plan c.sn be implemented, the room needed for operations can be reduced and the size of the gap between mining and grading and full reclamation considerable reduced. • The one exception to this will be the final pit side slopes. As these areas are mined out, the final slope is created. TopsoiIing then occurs contemporaneous with topsoiling of other areas. Refuse is not generally kept at the site as little material is taken to the site that would produce any refuse. No acid-forming or toxic materials are known to occur in the material to be mined or the overburden. No drilling or angering will be done in this operation. Also, no under- ground working are employed. As indicated previously, most of the area to be mined will be returned to a slope of very nearly 1~. No lakes are produced. The only slopes steeper than 1X will be the pit side slopes. These will be graded to a 3:1 slope at most • and where possible an even more gradual slope will be produced, particularly on south facing slopes. The choice for reclamation will be fore rangeland uses. It is possible that crops could be grown on the pit floor, but productivity would be limited until such time as full nutrient cycling can be established in the replaced soils. This is best accomplished over a large period of time using perennial grasses and legumes. For rangeland, maximum slopes of 3:1 are traversible by equipment. WATER: This operation is not expected to have any measurable influence on the prevailing hydrologic balance of the area. The pit is a dry operation. The groundwater is not intercepted. Runoff is minimal at present and although slightly retarded during the operation it does not measurably reduce the small amount of water that leaves the area at present. No wells are used or drilled. And all process water is hauled to the site after purchase from the City of • Fountain. In reclamation, all the original drainage patterns will be re-established. In effect there will not be any change in the surface or subsurface water quantity or quality. No earth dams will be built to impound water or control erosion. WILDLIFE: According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife report,. no significant wildlife resources exist in the area and, in their opinion, no significant negative impacts will occur. It is fully recognized that some negative impacts, primarily displacement, will occur, but these are insignificant and should not even be noticeable. • The reclamation of the site, i_` it actually does return to a rangeland use, i.n contrast to more domestic uses, should create as good a wildlife habitat as was there before the operation. In fact, for some species, the site may become better. Often reclamation projects create an enhanced population of rodents and lagomorphs. This abundance in turn attracts more raptors. Until a balance is achieved, reclamation areas are often excellent places for birdwatchers to observe and study various birds of prey, especially March Hawks and many Buteos. -2-