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ESCO <br />• 5 January 1994 <br />Mr. Paul Banks <br />SHB-AGRA, Inc. <br />165 So. Union Blvd., Suite 526 <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80228 <br />ESCO ASSOCIATES INC. <br />P.O. Boz 18775 1077 So. Cherryvale Rtl. <br />Boulder, CO 80308 Boulder, CO 80303 <br />(303) 447-2999 FAX (303) ~ <br />Re: Responses to DMG Adequacy Review Letter of Nov. 1993 <br />Exhibit E -Reclamation Plan <br />(iuestions from Specific Pages <br />Page 4 - °How many acres will be ripped at the time of maximum disturbance during the <br />life of the mine?" -~ <br />~ R~onse: During the course of mining and wasterock placement, almost all <br />i disturbed lands face the potential for compaction by heavy equipment, and it would be <br />safe to assume that all 158 acres of disturbance in need of reclamation in Year 10 (time <br />of maximum disturbance) will need to be ripped prior to topsoil placement. <br />Page 4 =Please -what-'cuttipacked' mans when referring to seedbed <br />r n. ~~- - - <br />• Re~onse: A cultipacker is a rolling drum comprised of many toothed wheels <br />that, as they roll across a surface, perform the function of breaking clods and firming <br />the soil surface. The action of this implement is desirable prior to drill seeding because <br />it facilitates even soil penetration by the drill furrow openers, resulting in more <br />uniform placement of seed at the desired depth. <br />Page 5 -'Under wooded wetland you state '...substrates in which these (trees and <br />shrubs) will be placed will be 15-20 inches of topsoil, with surface elevations set <br />slightly (6-12 inches) above water table to allow roots 'breathing space' . How will <br />this be monitored and assured? <br />Res op nse: As can be seen from the Map associated with Exhibit E on which the <br />planned distribution of constructed vegetation types is illustrated, Wooded Wetland is <br />planned for the lower slopes adjacent to water bodies. Planting of woody plant materials <br />will necessarily await observation of the actual level of water in the ponds. Placement of <br />woody plantings will be adjusted accordingly up or down the slope to achieve the <br />referenced soil "breathing zone" above the permanently saturated zone. The herbaceous <br />planting for this type can proceed immediately after grading to stabilize the graded and <br />topsoiled surface. <br />Page 5 - "Cottonwood groves -How will you maintain enough moisture here to support <br />cottonwood groves?" <br />Response: Cottonwood groves in the ridgetop areas are to be situated in <br />depressions as shown in Figure E-1. During the first three years after planting, drip <br />• irrigation will be used to deliver the equivalent of 30 inches of supplemental moisture <br />within the drip zone of each tree; this will not only sustain the young trees as they <br />develop their roots, but also will deeply wet the uncompacted soils in the bottom of the <br />depression an encourage deep rooting. It is anticipated that once established under these <br />~„-CI' <br />~ t~ <br />\~l~" <br />