2010-07-19_REVISION - M1980146

• Permit No: M1980146
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 7/19/2010
• Doc Name: Response to comment
• From: Wasteline Inc.
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: AM4
• Email Name: RCO
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

WL-PM-E/Letter to: DRMS Subject: Response to Comments
• 1. The Operator is responsible for reclamation of all surface disturbances on public lands that are
related to activities conducted under previous contracts issued to C and J Gravel. Interim and
final reclamation must be initiated at the earliest economically and technically feasible time.
Interim reclamation will be initiated when an area will not be used for a minimum of three years.
Interim reclamation will consist of maintaining surfaces in a stable condition which will not
erode. Surfaces will be vegetated with a seed mix that is approved by the BLM. Final
reclamation will be implemented when an area will clearly not be used for operations in the
future. Final reclamation will consist of recontouring disturbed surfaces to natural contours and
re-vegetating with a BLM-approved native seed mixture. The operator would repeat seeding as
needed to meet BLM vegetation standards. Revegetation would be considered to be complete
when a permanent, reproducing plant community has been established that meets long-term use
goals.
2. During final reclamation, all disturbed areas would be re-contoured to blend as closely as possible
with the natural topography, and to blend visually with adjacent natural textures and colors of
rocks, trees, and surface materials. Final reclamation should include "roughing up" slopes and
"footing-in'' salvaged trees and rocks onto slopes to develop natural appearing course texture and
to create precipitation catchment areas to establish perennial vegetative growth.
3. Topographic screening, including berming and retention of existing natural exterior slopes until
late in the development process, will be utilized to reduce visual effects from the Highway 160
corridor and along the Sale Barn Trail.
4. The pit edge will be a minimum of 100 feet from the edge of the Sale Barn Trail, in order to
• screen views from the trail. Some adjustments, plus or minus, may be made by BLM landscape
architect, depending on vegetation and topography.
5. C and J Gravel will collaborate with the BLM to develop and implement reclamation techniques
for barren Mancos Shale slopes visible from KOP 4.3 in order to visually blend with adjacent
course textured, sparsely treed, natural slopes. This will entail modification of approximately 50
percent of the visible slope face by developing an appearance of a coarse texture through
earthwork placement of boulder and woody debris salvaged from the proposed action area, and
appropriate reclamation plantings.
6. A berm will be constructed along the top of the pit wall. The profile of existing and proposed
berms will be varied, where feasible, to reduce negative visual effects as viewed from area trails,
to appear more natural, and aid in slope stabilization.
7. Rocks and trees removed from the expansion area will be salvaged for use on existing pit slopes
to assist with interim and final reclamation and soil stabilization in those locations. Tree root balls
can be footed-in to slopes to aid in stabilization.
b. Future revisions may also be required for other matters as discussed below. We
understand that these revisions may require a technical revision to be submitted to
DRMS for review and approval.
c. If the slopes in the eastern portion of the site (including the new and old access
road) cannot be adequately reclaimed within five years after implementation, we will
be required to submit a revision to the reclamation plan with alternative methods of
• reclamation. We understand that the progress will be closely monitored. (Please note
that BLM will be monitoring operations, including reclamation, a minimum of four times
per year, in addition to DRMS monitoring.) The applicant/operator proposes
PROJECT: Montoya Pit M-1980-146 AM-4 15 July 2010, Page 2