2003-03-25_REVISION - M2001085 (4)

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t the replacement well will be constructed up 200 feet further west of the mining site and will be installed to bedrock (whereas the existing well penetrates only eight feet into groundwater). For the Frosts, the Applicant is offering to deepen or move their shallow well, if the well's capacity is adversely affected by mining activity or construction of the slurry wall. As of March 21, 2003, both the Offs and the Frosts appear to be happy with these offers, and the Applicant is comfortable that agreements with these two neighboring landowners will be finalized in the near future. As a result of the Adams County land use processes, the Applicant has also told the County, in a letter of March 11, 2003, that, before mining activity begins on the site, the Applicant will use the records of the State Engineer to inventory all wells in shallow groundwater that are located south of 124' Avenue, north of 120'b Avenue, and east of Old Brighton Road. Before mining activity begins, the Applicant will send letters to these well owners, again informing them of the plans for mining and creating a water storage reservoir. In this mailing the Applicant will offer to deepen or repair any of these wells that lose capacity or water quality due to the Applicant's mining activity or construction of the slurry wall. Acceptance of the offer by any well owner will be contingent upon allowing the Applicant to routinely monitor water depth and water quality of the owner's well before, during, and following mining activity and to allow comparison with monitoring well data to allow a determination that failing well performance is, in fact, due to the Applicant's activity. If there is uncertainty whether poor performance of a well is attributable to the Applicant's mining activity, the Applicant will pay to hire a (mutually agreed upon) independent consultant to review available information and make that determination and provide recommendations for resolving the poor well performance. 3) Attached are the State Engineer's Office comments. Please contact them for further clarification on their comments. The Office of the State Engineer will be contacted for clarification regarding that agency's comments of January 3, 2003. The Applicant acknowledges that proposed mining and reclamation activity can proceed only following receipt of necessary approvals and/or permits, as required by and within the jurisdiction of the Office of the State Engineer. 4) As previously mentioned, Adams County has apparently requested the addition of visual berms along the south and west sides of the permit area. In addition to identifying the size and location of these berms on the mine plan map we are requesting that their potential impact to the overall stability of the mined slopes be considered. In conversations with A& Keen, it is our understanding that Ground Engineering Consultants is reviewing this issue and will be submitting an addendum to their original report evaluating potential impacts to the slope stabilityfrom the addition of berms along the tops of the south and west sides. This will be reviewed for compliance upon receipt. As shown by the drawings that accompany this Response to Adequacy Review a visual berm will be placed along the west and south sides of the proposed mining arpa. The berm will be approximately 10. -fed high and approximately 25 feet wide at its base.,. The limits of excavation along the west and south sides of the mining area will be at the immediate edge of the berm. A copy of Ground Engineering's letter report addressing stability'impacts due to the berm will be forwarded to the Division as soon as it is completed by Ground Engineering.