2016-04-15_PERMIT FILE - M2016009 (5)

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b� Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety ftcaiva) 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 APR 15 2016 Denver,Colorado ( � DIVISION OF REqAk4nCW To Whom It May Concern: IIIININGANDN I am writing this letter in opposition of the Regular(112)Construction Materials Operation Reclamation Permit requested by Fremont Paving& Redi-Mix, Inc. for a mine known as the 441h Lane Project located at or near Section 19,Township 21 South, Range 62 West,6th Prime Meridian under provisions of the Colorado Land Reclamation Act for the Extraction of Construction Materials. I am opposed to the mine for several reasons.The amount of dust and dirt that would be created in the area will not only be a nuisance, but will also have a negative impact on surrounding pastures,crops and farm animals. I am currently leasing a piece of property adjacent to the proposed mining site.This property was previously used in the construction of an underground gas line.The strip of land that was disturbed in the gas line installation has been reclaimed three times and is still yet to grow grass.Our dry climate is not conducive to reclamation.The property that I lease is currently full of tumbleweeds and what little grass remained around the gas line area has been beaten off by blow sand coming from the gas line areas. Fremont Paving&Redi-Mix also currently has a mining permit on some state land currently located on 361h Lane in Avondale, Colorado.As is true with the property that I lease privately, the previously mined areas on the state ground are barren and the native grasses have not been re- established. The state land currently under lease by Fremont Paving is also littered with old buildings that were removed from the job site and merely set out on the property to deteriorate, resulting in various types of litter scattered across the ground.The same would be true only on a much larger scale as the gravel pit develops on the newly proposed site. As a farmer in the area I also have concerns regarding the run-off from the gravel pit area.The proposed site is located in an area in which run-off from heavy rains drain into the Bessemer Irrigation ditch.This area is already a flood problem for crops north of the Bessemer and the town of Avondale.The tailings from the mine could very potentially be washed into the Bessemer causing the ditch to overflow at faster pace,or possibly be totally blocked,flooding all the crops north of the Bessemer and the town of Avondale itself.The flooding will not only destroy crops,as it has done in the past,a blockage in the Bessemer Ditch would prevent farmers down stream from having much needed irrigation water. I also have concerns regarding the heavy truck traffic that will flow across 401h lane,through some private land,only to eventually cross 36th lane. The trucks will not only contribute to the dust problems throughout the area,the increase in traffic is a hazard to the residents and agricultural producers that use the same roads. As an owner of land within the proposed area and the leasee of other properties in the same location, I believe the development of a gravel pit on that property would have a detrimental effect on my properties and on the surrounding ranching and farming community as a whole. I sincerely hope you will consider denying the request for this permit. I understand gravel pits are necessary,but I believe they should be located a greater distance away from homes and active farm or ranching communities. Respectf y, Kelly G. Bond 1820 Avondale Blvd. Avondale,CO 81022