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King Mountain Gravel. I,I.C <br />Routt County Pit Expansion General Application and <br />Mineral Development Application Narrative <br />Pre-Application Conference March 2010 <br />King Mountain Gravel. LLC seeks a Special Use Permit for an expansion of the <br />existing pit owned and operated by King Mountain Gravel, I.I.C. The existing pit has <br />been in production for many, many years and has produced over 1 million tons of gravel <br />since it opened. It is fully permitted by the State of Colorado Division of Minerals and <br />Geology (see attached Letter and Order) for a total of 341 acres, of'w-hich 184 acres may <br />be affected with an active mining area of no more than 35 acres at any given time. The <br />pit is a dry pit and thus has minimal impact on surface water ways, creeks and <br />groundwater. The gravel is-naturally dryer than gravel- produced-in wet-alluvial mines <br />and thus does not require a lengthy period to dry. The gravel from the pit is of the <br />highest quality and meets and exceeds the specifications for most jobs. including the <br />demands for spec gravel needed for doing higher quality jobs such as the gravel required <br />for State and federal highway projects. <br />The pit is currently permitted by the County for approximately 9,9 acres. Applicants seek <br />an expansion of the pit to no more than 35 acres (to be consistent with the State Permit) <br />but request at least a total of 22 surface acres (about double the sire of the existing pit) in <br />order to allow for more efficient use and production within the pit itself. Working on the <br />mine floor has become difficult and congested as the square footage of the mine floor has <br />decreased as the mining goes deeper and deeper into the ground, below grade. <br />Operations are proposed to include mining, crushing and sales. In order to be able to bid <br />and service bigger jobs, Applicants seek an approval which does not severely limit the <br />production volume and thus sales. Applicants seek the expansion because of the <br />limitations that the currently permitted surface area imposes on operations inside and <br />around the pit. As the mine is below the surface grade and "down in the ground and <br />taking into consideration the cut bank slope and the access (ingress/egress) into, and out <br />of, the mine, the working area on the mine floor has decreased and is further limiting <br />production. With an increase in the permitted surface acreage, applicants are confident <br />that in a relatively short period oftime, all operations, including stock piling of materials <br />and equipment,-can-be done inside the pit and below grade. This-will greatly reduce the <br />visual impacts the mine many have to adjoining property owners. An expanded pit will <br />increase the number of jobs that the mine can support, thus creating job opportunities for <br />residents in the area. <br />Most mining has historically been done between May and November of each <br />year. It is anticipated that mining operations may expand beyond these dates if sales, <br />weather and site conditions allow. Hours of operation have historically begun around <br />9:00 am and end at around 6:00 pm, however, demand and/or contractual commitments <br />may require expanded hours. Applicant seeks hours of operation between 8:00 to 6:00 <br />Monday through Friday, and Saturday mornings from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Applicant <br />requests the ability to expand hours of operation, if necessary and with County approval, <br />to meet out-of-the-ordinary demand, but would expect to request and obtain permission <br />