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Page 2 <br />Aug 8, 2008 <br />Daniels Sand Pit #2 <br />moving forward, but with the weak economy it is conceivable that this <br />construction will need to be delayed for lack of funds. Of course, those decisions <br />are not in the hands of Continental Materials. So, with the changes in the end use it <br />is even more important to have an alternate revegetation plan in place in the event <br />there are prolonged delays in the highway construction. <br />Response - Reclamation: In our opinion, the reclamation for this area probably needs to be divided into two <br />parts. First, is temporary reclamation to fill the time gap between the present and <br />the start of highway construction. Second, is more permanent reclamation in the <br />event the highway construction is cancelled for some reason. Although the latter is <br />not likely, it is always a possibility, no matter how small. <br />Reclamation of Affected Land in Highway Corridor <br />Two situations could exist with regard to this land. On the one hand, during the time between <br />the present and the initiation of the highway construction any affected land in this corridor needs to <br />have some vegetation cover to mainly reduce blowing sand and soil particles. The second situation <br />might arise if the highway construction does not occur. Although this is unlikely, it is a possibility <br />and needs to be accounted for. <br />Dealing with the second case would be fairly simple. Any affected land that does not have <br />sufficient soil to establish a permanent, long-lasting vegetation cover would be topsoiled in <br />accordance with the same specifications as the slopes above and below the Fountain Mutual Ditch <br />corridor. Those areas, as well as any other affected lands that do have adequate soil coverage, would <br />be planted with the same seed mixture that is to be used on the slopes around the north end of the <br />pit. <br />In the first situation, where the land sits idle while waiting for the construction to begin, soil will <br />not be placed on the affected land as any removed soil is already stockpiled elsewhere for use in the <br />pit reclamation. During the fall or winter of 2008/2009, this land will be loosened by discing or other <br />appropriate means to remove any compaction and will be planted with the following seed mixture. <br />The seeding rate is for drill seeding. <br />Species Rate # PLS/acre) <br />Regreen 10 (should be planted at least an inch deep) <br />Sand Bluestein 7 (plant along with Regreen) <br />Ranger Alfalfa 1 (can be hand broadcast either before drilling but after <br />loosening soil, or after drilling) <br />In this mixture, the Regreen provides quick cover in the next growing season and a nurse crop <br />for the bluestem, and the alfalfa aids in the improvement of nitrogen in the sandy soil. As there is <br />probably no more than an acre or so of land to be seeded, this is an inexpensive, effective treatment <br />to establish some vegetation. <br />Item C. - Growth medium: A concern is expressed over the use of materials from elsewhere in the operation <br />or materials donated and imported into the site for reclaiming the pit floor. <br />Response: In the long history of this site, a fair amount of mining was done prior to requirements for <br />salvaging topsoil became the law. Thus, there could be some deficiency in the amount of available <br />soil to place an adequate depth over all areas that will be revegetated. Clearly, the priority for <br />topsoiling are the slopes as those will be in most need of a good growth medium. The lowest <br />priority is the pit bottom which will be essentially level and tends to revegetate fairly easily with