2013-02-12_PERMIT FILE - M2013007 (16)

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c) Dust: Although the pit activities will be watered and all operations on the site are regulated by the Air Quality Control Division of the CDPHE, the relatively low annual production, aggressive watering of roads and limiting the disturbed area should prevent significant dust impacts. d) Visual impact: This is subject to an evaluation as part of the Special Use process. The lower 3.69 acres for the office and shop area will remain essentially the same as it currently exists since the existing house will be used as an office. A new shop and supply building will be built in this area but this is not different from many other commercial sites along Highway 550 north and south of this site. The access road will have approximately 8.32 acres of disturbance but this area is hidden from Highway 550 by placing the road in a natural dry gulch with a bluff between the road and Highway 550. The closest point of this access road is over 3500 feet from Highway 550. All cuts and fills required for this road will be reclaimed within 6 months of the road construction. Visual impact from the pit will also be minimized by essentially mining down into the gravel deposit while leaving a natural berm around the perimeter of the site, which will only be mined out at the end of the mine life, leaving a flat terrace. Initially, the portable plants and the topsoil operation may be visible to a few residents west of the pit in the lower valley but once the deposit has been mined in a 7 -10 acre area to its depth of 25 -35 feet, all equipment and plants will be placed on the bottom and will be basically invisible to anyone located in any direction from the pit. Only at the very end of the mine life, when the natural berm is removed, will the excavation equipment be seen again. This is Mining Area 5 and has a reserve amount of 411,000 tons. It should be mined in approximately 4 years or less. Once it is mined out, the terrace will be completely restored to rangeland and wildlife habitat. e) The product from this mine will positively impact the local community by supplying construction materials for the foreseeable growth of this part of Montrose County. It also has the advantage of supplying this area with construction material from the same area, thus limiting the amount of truck traffic that goes through the town of Montrose and also greatly lessening truck traffic on the highway system, which in turn will lessen road repairs. Also, lessening truck traffic by providing construction materials near to the end use will also lessen the amount of greenhouse gases produced for many years to come. Uncompahgre Pit, February 2013 D -9