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1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />Western Gravel LLC (the "Proponent ") proposes to construct and operate the White River City <br />Gravel Pit Phase 2 within Rio Blanco County (the "County "), specifically in Section 9, T1N <br />R96W. The site of the proposed gravel operation is southeast of Rio Blanco Lake and south of <br />the White River, approximately 13.2 miles west of Meeker. The County has regulatory authority <br />to require an Environmental Assessment in order to evaluate potential impacts of the proposed <br />action, and the County has the sole decision - making authority concerning approval /disapproval <br />of the Special Use Permit required for the gravel pit operations. <br />The site of Phase 2 is accessed off RBCR 5 about %2 mile south of the turnoff from Highway 64. <br />The existing access road has historically been used to access private lands for agricultural <br />purposes. The access road runs southeasterly following the White River drainage and alternately <br />crosses parcels of private and public land. There is no public access from this private driveway. <br />The Bureau of Land Management conducted a separate EA concerning road improvements and <br />approved the upgrade of the 3200 -foot segment which crosses BLM lands to accommodate <br />commercial truck traffic along this access route. This EA has been prepared to evaluate the <br />issues identified by the County planning staff and meet those County requirements as a basis for <br />making a rational decision concerning the proposed impacts and mitigation for this project. <br />1.1 PURPOSE AND NEED <br />State highway road work and on -going oil /gas development in the region is creating a high <br />demand for gravel resources, while current supplies from existing pits are dwindling. The <br />purpose of the proposed action is to construct and operate a gravel pit facility to meet the gravel <br />resource demands in the County, particularly those localized demands in the Piceance Basin <br />which will reduce haul costs, traffic congestion, highway maintenance costs and safety issues for <br />residents and visitors. <br />1.2 PROPOSED ACTION <br />The proposed action is to construct and operate a new gravel pit, which also will have a small <br />office facility, complete with appurtenant scales, equipment and parking necessary for <br />operations. <br />1.3 DECISION TO BE MADE <br />The proposal requires a single decision with three possible results: <br />1. Deny the permit application (No Action). <br />2. Approve the permit application as submitted. <br />3. Approve the permit application with specific management constraints and /or mitigation <br />measures. <br />Environmental Solutions, Inc. Page 3 of 30 March 09 <br />