2016-03-31_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (3)

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The Pifions of Turkey Cafion Ranch Homeowners' Association 15580 Cala Rojo Drive Colorado Springs, Colorado 80926-9303 RECEIVED March 29,2016 iv. MAR 31 2016 SION OF RECLAMATION Colorado Division of Reclamation,Mining and Safety DIVI MINING AND 1313 Sherman Street,Room 215 SAFETY Denver, Colorado 80203 Re: Transit Mix Concrete Company application for Reclamation Permit,Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry (#M2016010) Dear Madam or Sir; I am pleased to submit this letter on behalf of the 58 property owners within the The Pinons of Turkey Canon Ranch("the Pinons"). The Pinons is located along Highway 115,just south of the proposed Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry operation. We hereby request the study period be extended prior to considering the Transit Mix application. Transit Mix has been studying this project for two and one-half years,yet we were only made aware of their permit application in early March of this year.We are at a clear disadvantage in that we have had just five weeks to study the 809 page Transit Mix permit application, consult with stakeholders and subject matter experts to analyze the potential impacts, and work with various regulatory agencies involved in the review and approval process. The owners and residents within the Pinons are unanimously opposed to yet another large-scale aggregate mining operation a short distance from our community, in addition to the three quarries already in service along a five mile stretch of Highway 115. Significant constraints to additional quarry development exist in the area, including limited water supplies, a fragile groundwater system, rich wildlife and vegetation resources,public health and safety,air and noise contamination, compromised transportation within the community,traffic hazards along Highway 115,existing quarries that satisfy the demand,violation of current development plans for the area,proximity to local residents, and limited or no alternatives for residents. Water Supply.All residents along the Highway 115 corridor depend on ground water for their domestic water supply. Three communities are on central well systems and the remaining residents are served by individual wells. These wells likely depend on the fracture system within the granitic rock for water supply,while wells in the adjacent upturned sedimentary rocks may depend upon both these fracture systems and infiltration along the granite-sedimentary rock boundary for recharge. This situation makes such wells dependent on the quality of the recharging surface water and makes them highly susceptible to contamination. Contamination from mining operations can travel very quickly through the fracture system to affect domestic wells. The geology and topography of the proposed Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry site makes such effects exceedingly difficult to predict. Further, the effect from blasting operations,which Transit Mix proposes to conduct two or three times each week,on the fracture system will likely exacerbate the problem and is equally difficult to predict. 1