2016-04-11_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (4)

Home Browse Search

Noise and Air Contamination: Quarrying requires drilling and blasting with explosives, which create vibrations, noise, and dust. Once this process is completed, rock crushing machines crush the rock, conveyor belt machines move the rock around the processing plant; trucks are loaded and unloaded. The process and heavy machinery required to mine, is intrusive and creates significant noise and air pollution; thus having a direct impact on the surrounding areas and community. Air quality is compromised and diminished by the fugitive dust associated with aggregate mining. Dust generated by mining often contains silica, a common naturally occurring crystal found in most rock beds. Prolonged exposure to silica may result in silicosis. According the Centers for Disease Control, "silicosis is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by over exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Over exposure to dust that contains microscopic particles of crystalline silica can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs, which reduces the lung's ability to extract oxygen from the air we breathe." In addition to silicosis, inhalation of crystalline silica particles has been associated with other diseases, such as bronchitis and tuberculosis. Noise and Air Contamination continued: Due to our unique dry climate with sustained Chinook winds of 20 to 40 miles per hour this is a health issue for both humans and animals living within a four mile radius of this quary. Dr. Robert Nathan, MD, a Diplomate of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, and known world wide for his research and knowledge, noted in a letter to your office that the Silica dust behaves similarly to pollen, "it can impact the airways of asthma and COPD patients as far a 3-4 miles away." We have several of those patients living here daily on Glenrock Drive. Transportation: Transportation in the Highway 115 area is unique in that the normal hierarchy of roads do not exist. Highway 115 is the lifeline upon which residents depend. It is the only means of transportation into, out of, and within the community. There are no other alternatives, and residents cannot avoid using Highway 115 for their life-sustaining transportation needs. Thus, the condition and safety of Highway 115 are primary concerns of all residents. According to the El Paso County Major Transportation Corridors Plan (MTCP), Highway 115 south of Fort Carson's main gate is functionally classified as "congested". Major sections of the highway are two lane, including the point at which Transit Mix proposes to access the highway. The proposed highway access point is also located at a historically dangerous place, with multiple fatal traffic accidents in recent years. Unfortunately, the 2040 MTCP Roadway Plan does not call for any improvements to Highway 115 through the year 2040, so the highway we have now is what we will live with for many years to come. If the Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry is allowed to proceed, an already congested highway, currently bearing truck traffic from three active quarries, will be burdened by as many as 624 additional trucks per day when the quarry is at full production. This additional traffic will exacerbate traffic hazards not only for the local residents, but also for the many commuters who use this major thoroughfare to Colorado Springs, as well as the many tourists, bicyclists, and motorcycle clubs who frequent the area for it's unique geographic and aesthetic appeal. Existing Ouarries: There are currently three quarries operating within a five mile stretch along Highway 115, the nearest less than three miles from the proposed Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry site. The quarry operators report they are currently operating at roughly half their capacity. When questioned why such low production, the response is "insufficient demand". This calls into question the need for yet another quarry on the backs of the already burdened local residents. 3