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Noise and Air Contamination continued: Due to our unique dry climate with sustained <br /> Chinook winds of 20 to 40 miles per hour this is a health issue for both humans and animals <br /> living within a four mile radius of this quary. Dr.Robert Nathan,MD,a Diplomate of the <br /> American Board of Allergy and Immunology,and known world wide for his research and <br /> knowledge, noted in a letter to your office that the Silica dust behaves similarly to pollen, "it <br /> can impact the airways of asthma and COPD patients as far a 3-4 miles away." We have <br /> several of those patients living here daily on Glenrock Drive. <br /> Transportation: Transportation in the Highway 115 area is unique in that the normal hierarchy of <br /> roads do not exist. Highway H 5 is the lifeline upon which residents depend. It is the only means of <br /> transportation into, out of, and within the community. There are no other alternatives,and <br /> 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 El <br /> Paso County Major Transportation Corridors Plan(MTCP), Highway 115 south of Fort Carson's <br /> main gate is functionally classified as "congested". Major sections of the highway are two lane, <br /> including the point at which Transit Mix proposes to access the highway. The proposed highway <br /> access point is also located at a historically dangerous place, with multiple fatal traffic accidents in <br /> recent years. Unfortunately,the 2040 MTCP Roadway Plan does not call for any improvements <br /> to Highway 115 through the year 2040,so the highway we have now is what we will live with <br /> for many years to come. If the Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry is allowed to proceed,an already <br /> congested highway,currently bearing truck traffic from three active quarries,will be <br /> burdened by as many as 624 additional trucks per day when the quarry is at full production. <br /> This additional traffic will exacerbate traffic hazards not only for the local residents, but also <br /> for the many commuters who use this major thoroughfare to Colorado Springs,as well as the <br /> many tourists, bicyclists,and motorcycle clubs who frequent the area for it's unique <br /> geographic and aesthetic appeal. <br /> Existing Quarries: There are currently three quarries operating within a five mile stretch along <br /> Highway 115,the nearest less than three miles from the proposed Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry site. <br /> The quarry operators report they are currently operating at roughly half their capacity. When <br /> questioned why such low production,the response is"insufficient demand". This calls into question <br /> the need for yet another quarry on the backs of the already burdened local residents. <br /> Proximity to Local Residents: There are more than 140 properties within two miles of the proposed <br /> quarry site, some as close as 1200 feet and with direct line-of-sight to the quarry operations. The vast <br /> majority, if not all, of these property owners are vehemently opposed to the applicant's quarry plans. <br /> The policies incorporated in the El Paso County Southwestern Highway 115 Comprehensive <br /> Plan (see below)state"any resource extraction operation should be located a minimum of two <br /> miles distant from any dissenting residents". <br /> 3 <br />