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Exhibit E -Compliance with Elbert County Master Plan <br />Mining definition used by Elbert County -Near the end of the Elbert County Master Plan <br />document is a definition of mining as used by Elbert County. This definition differs <br />somewhat from that used in the applicable Colorado reclamation laws, but obviously also <br />contains a good deal of parallelism with that definition. It is important to begin this section of <br />the application by stating the definition as that sets the general context of the responses to <br />various issues presented in the master plan. Obviously, many of the issues and goals <br />regarding other types of land use would not apply to a mining operation, yet some are also <br />universally applicable to all land uses. The bold portions are those parts of the definition that <br />specifically apply to this mining operation. <br />Mining -The extraction of minerals, including solids such as <br />coal and ores; liquids such as crude petroleum; and gases such as natural <br />gases. The term also includes quarrying; milling such as crushing, <br />screening, or washing; and other preparations customarily done at <br />the mine site or as a part of a mining activity. <br />2. Adequate land use buffers - Because mining is an intensive land use that usually alters <br />the face of the land in some way and, to some, is considered a disruptive activity with <br />respect to possible adjacent land uses, having adequate buffers between the mining <br />operation and adjacent land uses are important. Elbert County, as well as most other <br />counties, have specific requirements regarding setbacks from the edge of the mining <br />operation. It is expected that no mining occur closer to adjacent uses than the setback <br />distance. In Elbert County, the setback is set by rule at a minimum of 500 feet. As <br />indicated in Exhibit D, the outer limits of mining activity is well beyond that minimal <br />distance. Therefore, it can be concluded that the planned area for mining is in compliance <br />with this requirement. <br />Avoidance of ridges, mesas, riparian zones - Elbert County has specifically <br />designated these landscape features as being important to avoid. Various types of <br />developments, especially housing, can be very attractive when the homes are placed on <br />the tops of ridges or mesas. But Elbert County also recognizes that locating housing, <br />mines, antennas and similar structures on hilltops and ridges can seriously disrupt the <br />quality of the sometimes spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains, especially for <br />residents located to the east of the developed hill or ridge. Riparian zones are also <br />Miller Gravel Pit -Special Use Permit Page 6 of 26 <br />