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Commissioner O'Bryan wanted to ensure that an independent, neutral, and <br />unbiased party, such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS), would prepare the <br />hydrology report required under Recommendation No. 6, "...require submission of a hydrology <br />report...." <br />County Attorney William Collins, however, felt that having USGS do the <br />hydrology reports might be problematic, due to agency cut-backs at this time. <br />A brief discussion ensued among the Board and staff regarding the lack of an on- <br />site staff hydrologist, and how best to obtain an impartial hydrology study. Director Boling <br />remarked that the County could hire an expert to review the hydrology reports. <br />Vice Chairman Davis felt that the one-year monitoring requirement on wet and dry <br />season well data, which was part of Recommendation No. 6, would constitute a de facto <br />moratorium, and would be in opposition to the State Statute to not have a moratorium for more <br />than one year. <br />Staff reported that this requirement could be done in coordination with the <br />application process, and would not constitute a second moratorium. <br />Commissioner O'Bryan declared that groundwater impacts are a huge concern, and <br />stated that one year of monitoring is basically "just scratching the surface." He noted that the <br />mining operations could be moving forward with other issues while the baseline monitoring is <br />being conducted. <br />Commissioner Wheeler agreed with Commissioner O'Bryan, and added that it <br />takes a long time to remediate once damage is done to the groundwater. <br />3 <br />October 6, 2008 <br />