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RECEIVE: <br />Bomb, Environmental Pollutions Consulting (BEPC) August 1. 2012 <br />in my opinion, the operator should be directed to implement the following to <br />adequately restore the Morgan property: <br />Salinity: Saline soils cannot be reclaimed by chemical amendments, conditioners or <br />fertilizers. A field can only be reclaimed by removing salts from the plant root zone. Based on a <br />conversation with Mr. Morgan it is my understanding that the groundwater level or water table <br />on the property is very high and It is therefore likely that the leaching requirement method (i.e., <br />salts are moved below the root zone by applying more water than the plant needs) will 'not be <br />feasible. Thus, it is likely that a method that combines the leaching requirement method with <br />artificial drainage is needed. Artificial drainage can be accomplished by cutting drainage <br />ditches in fields below the water table level to channel away drainage water and allow the salts to <br />leach out. Drainage tile or plastic drainpipe can also be buried in fields for this purpose. Proper <br />design and construction of a drainage system is critical and should be performed by a trained <br />professional, such as your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS). With <br />all artificial drainage systems you must also consider disposal of the drainage water (consult with, <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment). <br />Organic Matter: Addition of composted manures or sewage sludge (biosolids) can help <br />increase the organic matter content and thus make the soil more fertile and less prone to erosion. <br />Alternatively, addition of biocbar could be considered. <br />pH: It is likely that if the soil is treated for high salt content (EC) that the pH will thus also be <br />lowered due to leaching of calcium carbonate from the topsoil resulting in a pH close to the <br />undisturbed soil (i.e., pH 7.3). (Note: A pH of 6.6 to 7.3 is favorable for microbial activities that <br />contribute to the availability of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus in soils.). The suggested <br />addition of compost is also likely to decrease the soil pH. If the soil pH is not lowered by treating <br />for salinity or the addition of organic matter then treatment with acid can be considered. <br />However, acid treatment (with chemical amendments that contain, sulfur) is often uneconomical <br />for soils that have a content of calcium carbonate of more than about 5 %. Alternative ways to <br />lower the pH includes the addition of anhydrous ammonia as a nitrogen fertilizer. <br />Rocks: Various rock windrowers, rock pickers and rock rakes can be used to remove rocks from <br />agricultural soils. Rock crushers have also been used for the reclamation of fanning lands where <br />stone crushing is required. Alternatively, the dirt stockpiles could be sieved before land <br />application but that might not be a feasible solution for this site. [Note: A rock removal <br />contractor needs to be consulted to help identify the best solution for the Morgan property since I <br />am not an expert on this topic]. <br />Soil Depth: The original soil depth existing pre- mining must be reestablished by addition of <br />high quality topsoil (quality similar or better than the undisturbed soil)_ <br />Page 12 of 13 <br />No.0743 08/10 /2012 /FRI 12:11AM <br />