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~`C~ ~~p ~-t443-n3 ~' <br />United States Department of Agriculture ~~,.,(~ <br />[~ r ~~ ~ Natural / Teller-Park SCD Office <br />``\U',' Resources f/ Tamarac Business Center <br />!r Conservation ~ 800 Research Dr., Suite 100 <br />Service Woodland Park, CO 80863 <br />Phone: (719)686-9405 Leon.Kot@co_usda:gov ~ Fax: (719)686-9403 <br />February 22, 2006`. <br />R~CEiV~D <br />Jean Garren <br />Teller County Planning Dept. C Q P Y ~AR.1 C 2006 <br />P.O. Box 1886 - <br />WOOtlland Park, CO 80866 Qrvision of Minerals and Geology <br />$USJECT: City of Cripple Creek CUP Amendment for the Midland Mine/Gravel Pit <br />Qn February 10, 2006 I conducted a brief inspection of the Midland Gravel Pit grounds to deter- <br />mine how successful the past reclamation has been, to prepare these written comments about <br />the City's request to expand the Midland Pit substantially. My comments are as follows. <br />1. Upon driving up from the north on County Road 61 to the west boundary of the current <br />working pit, what at first appeared to be a potentially dangerous high wall was adualry the <br />uppermost topsoil spoil pile resting on a properly graded cutslope. Although I could not <br />compute the volume of topsoil present, based on the previous redamation work and <br />amount of vegetative cover established the City has done a goad job at such a <br />challenging site. Based on my past experience with redaimino disturbed areas and mine <br />sites at our high elevations and short growing seasdn, I would gauge the redamation <br />efforts at the Midland Pif as very successful. <br />2. I recommend that the City continue the same reclamation techniques-high altitude grass <br />mixtures, cutslopes as close to 3:1 or even 4:1 if possible, etc. to ensure future success. <br />I expected more of an impact from the long term drought on the redamation situation <br />there, but R was not apparent. The topography to the north where the additional <br />mining is to be expanded, is similar to the current working area and the reclaimed area, <br />so impacts on the fragile environment should be no more than is already taking place. <br />3. A recommendation that I assume is already occurring, is that the City exercise a high <br />level of care to contain any fuel or other spills from trucks or heavy equipment in the <br />unlikely event that such inddents happen. The shallow water table, active drainageway <br />and pond adjacent and downstream of the Pit would be quite vulnerable to such mishaps. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this application. <br />~~-~~~-_ <br />Leon S. Kot <br />District Conservationist <br />The Natural Resources Conservation Service works hand-in-hand with USDA NRCS IS AN EQUAL, OPPORTUNITY <br />the American people to conserve nntuml resources ov private lands. PROVIDER AND EMPLOYEER <br />