Laserfiche WebLink
occurrence here.Turkeys, in particular, are intolerant of industrial operations such as mining. <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife identifies the proposed quarry site as a primary elk residence and <br /> migration area. More than 100 species of birds have been documented using the area,and the <br /> stream corridors are known to be important movement areas for wide-ranging animals such as <br /> mountain lions,black bear,mule deer,and elk. There are unconfirmed reports of the presence of <br /> Canada Lynx, an endangered species recently reintroduced into Colorado, in the area. The <br /> proposed mining plan does not appear to provide an adequate buffer to protect the use of <br /> intermittent stream corridors by these sensitive species. <br /> Vegetation. Whoever prepared the vegetation analysis sections of the application apparently <br /> didn't spend much time on the site. The quarry site provides high quality foothills plant <br /> communities that are rapidly being converted to development north and south of this area. The <br /> dry (xeric)tallgrass sites along the Front Range are also rarely found in the high quality condition <br /> in evidence at this site. It contains excellent to good examples of globally-imperiled mountain <br /> mahogany/needlegrass community, an excellent occurrence of globally vulnerable piflon <br /> pine/Scribner needlegrass community,as well as an excellent occurrence of mesic oak thicket <br /> community. The lodgepole pine and blue spruce mentioned repeatedly in the application do not <br /> appear in significant numbers, while the white pine,which is very common at the site, is not <br /> mentioned at all. <br /> Noise and Air Contamination.Quarrying requires drilling and blasting with explosives,which <br /> create vibrations, noise,and dust. Once this process is completed,rock crushing machines crush <br /> the rock,conveyor belt machines move the rock around the processing plant;trucks are loaded <br /> and unloaded. The process and heavy machinery required to mine, is intrusive and creates <br /> significant noise and air pollution;thus having a direct impact on the surrounding areas and <br /> community. Air quality is compromised and diminished by the fugitive dust associated with <br /> aggregate mining. Dust generated by mining often contains silica,a common naturally occurring <br /> crystal found in most rock beds. Prolonged exposure to silica may result in silicosis. According <br /> the Centers for Disease Control, "silicosis is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung <br /> disease caused by over exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Over exposure to dust that <br /> contains microscopic particles of crystalline silica can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs, <br /> which reduces the lung's ability to extract oxygen from the air we breathe." In addition to <br /> silicosis, inhalation of crystalline silica particles has been associated with other diseases, such as <br /> bronchitis and tuberculosis. This is a health issue for the abutting and nearby residential home <br /> owners and their livestock. <br /> Transportation.Transportation in the Highway 115 area is unique in that the normal hierarchy <br /> of roads does not exist. Highway 115 is the lifeline upon which residents depend. It is the only <br /> means of transportation into,out of,and within the community.There are no other alternatives, <br /> and residents cannot avoid using Highway 115 for their life-sustaining transportation needs.Thus, <br /> the condition and safety of Highway 115 are primary concerns of all residents.According to the <br /> El Paso County Major Transportation Corridors Plan(MTCP), Highway 115 south of Fort <br /> Carson's main gate is functionally classified as"congested". Major sections of the highway are <br /> two lanes, including the point at which Transit Mix proposes to access the highway. The <br /> proposed highway access point is also located at a historically dangerous place,with multiple <br /> fatal traffic accidents in recent years. Unfortunately,the 2040 MTCP Roadway Plan does not call <br /> for any improvements to Highway 115 through the year 2040, so the highway we have now is <br /> what we will live with for many years to come. If the Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry is allowed to <br /> proceed,an already congested highway, currently bearing truck traffic from three active quarries, <br /> will be burdened by as many as 624 additional trucks per day when the quarry is at full <br /> production. This additional traffic will exacerbate traffic hazards not only for the local residents, <br /> 2 <br />