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WL-PM-E/Letter to: DRMS Subject: Response to Comments <br />area in this southern 20 or so acres to drain to the center of the area <br />(elevation 6710 as shown on Map F-3) and then to the southeast entirely <br />within the Montoya Pit boundaries, there is no way in which there can be <br />any "uncontrolled drainage" from the Montoya Pit into the Crader Pit. <br />d. Absolutely nothing has been stated in any exhibit of the application or in <br />any discussion which can be construed to mean that the operator of <br />Montoya Pit planned NOT to "extend" revegetation to the permit <br />boundary. At any place where the affected land extends to the permit <br />boundary, the operator has always planned that revegetation would <br />"extend" to that boundary: that ALL affected land will be reclaimed and <br />that only those areas specifically approved by the landowner would not <br />be revegetated. Please see additional discussion below. <br />e. The slope of BLM lands for reclamation will be done in accordance with <br />specific instructions of the BLM as the landowner. Construction by CDOT <br />in the immediate vicinity of the Montoya and Crader Pits demonstrates <br />that reclamation, including adequate revegetation and controlled <br />erosion) can be done. <br />It is NOT the intent of the operator or landowner to remove all structures <br />from private land; that is not the desire of the landowner. However, the <br />exact structures to be retained on the private land will be dictated by <br />approvals of La Plata County (or the current jurisdiction having authority <br />over the site at the time of reclamation), and so cannot be predicted at <br />this time. Map F-3 is labeled as "reclamation contours" - buildings and <br />most roads were not shown on this map in order to more clearly show the <br />contours, and not because these are to be removed. Any structures on <br />BLM land are planned to be removed, in accordance with BLM <br />requirements. (There are, at present, no permanent structures on BLM <br />land.) For purposes of reclamation cost estimating, we assume that all <br />structures now on private land will remain.) <br />g. It is NOT the intent of the operator or landowner to remove all roads from <br />private land; that is not the desire of the landowner. However, the exact <br />roads to be retained on the private land will be dictated by approvals of <br />La Plata County (or the current jurisdiction having authority over the site at <br />the time of reclamation), and CDOT limits on access to SH-160, and so <br />cannot be predicted at this time. However, at a minimum, both access <br />roads (in the Wilson Gulch Pit and the old access road) are intended to <br />remain for post-reclamation use. In addition, access roads and <br />parking/work areas adjacent to the new office, maintenance shop, and <br />houses will remain. It is understood that a technical revision or <br />amendment to the permit may be necessary at the time of final <br />reclamation of the permit, since the requirements of the various <br />government agencies are unpredictable. <br />3. Exhibit J (assumed that comments in the third paragraph under "Exhibit E" actually <br />applies to Exhibit J revised on 5 July 2010 and submitted): <br />a. "Dragging" of seeded areas will be done only if authorized by BLM. <br />PROJECT: Montoya Pit M-1980-146 AM-4 27 July 2010, Page 2