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operations will use 15 acre-feet of water per year (although it is my understanding the Pit can exceed that <br />amount to the extent there is sufficient replacement water). The fact is, Pit operations have been using far <br />less than the 15 acre-feet of water anticipated under the Decree. <br />a. Evaporation. <br />The Decree anticipates 2.33 acre-feet of water will be lost to evaporation annually based on one <br />acre of exposed ground water. This amount is less in years when the exposed water is frozen. <br />Since Mr. Hunt purchased the property in question, Pit operations have not exposed more than 0.5 <br />acres of ground water to evaporation. Thus, annual water losses due to evaporation have not <br />exceeded 1.17 acre-feet (0.5 X 2.33). <br />b. Washing. <br />The Decree assumes 3.86 acre-feet of water is retained annually to wash 100,000 tons of <br />aggregate. Annual aggregate production fluctuates from year to year due to a variety of factors. <br />According to the Pit operator, 45,829 tons of aggregate was mined and washed in 2007 resulting <br />in a depletion of 1.77 acre-feet of water (45;829/100,000 X 3.86). <br />c. Dust Control. <br />The Decree assumes 0.3 acre-feet of water is used annually for dust control. The Pit operator <br />has no reason to dispute this amount. <br />d. Stream and Transportation Losses. <br />The Decree assumes these losses tota12.8% of the water delivered or 2.8 acre-feet (2.8% X 100 <br />acre-feet j. These depletions are not directly related to Pit operations. Rather they result from the <br />flow of water from the Town's wastewater site to the Pit via Running Creek. We have no reason <br />to dispute the validity of this amount. <br />Given the above calculations, Pit operations accounted for water depletions of 6.04 acre-feet in 2007 <br />(1.17 + 1.77 + 0.3 + 2.8), less than half the anticipated amount under the Decree and far less that the 100 <br />acre-feet of water Mr. Hunt purchases annually from the Town. As I stated above, there is more than <br />enough replacement water for current operations as well as for any planned expansion of Pit operations. <br />I hope you find this information useful and trust it addresses any concerns raised in Mr. Rein's Letter. <br />Should you have any questions or require additional information, feel free to contact me. <br />Sincerely <br />f// <br />egory omas <br />enc. <br />i~ <br />c: Rick Hunt <br />Mark Heffner / <br />