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6. IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE <br /> 6.1 Scenic Views Damaged by Quarry operations <br /> The proposed location of the quarry is within a scenic canyon to the west of Highway 115. That <br /> canyon is a combination of steep rocky walls and natural vegetation. Quarry operations will <br /> drastically alter a large portion of that canyon. <br /> The quarry plan calls for reducing visibility of the quarry to passing motorists. While this may <br /> be the case for motorists passing along Highway 115, the quarry operations area will not be <br /> hidden from motorists driving along Little Turkey Creek Road to reach their properties within <br /> Eagles Nest. <br /> Eagles Nest is located to the west of the proposed quarry operations area at a higher elevation <br /> than the quarry. Today, a number of owners within Eagles Nest enjoy dramatic, scenic views <br /> looking east down Little Turkey Creek canyon toward the plains below. In the future, these <br /> owners will look down into portions of the quarry operations area. <br /> 6.2 Noise Generated by Quarry Operations <br /> The noise associated with blasting and crushing quarry rocks, as well as the noise associated with <br /> the operation of large haul vehicles within the quarry operations area and dump trucks <br /> transporting material out of the quarry may significantly increase the level of noise in what has <br /> historically been a very quiet rural area. The topography of the canyon creates acoustic <br /> phenomena in which sound travels a great distance up and down the canyon. For example, <br /> property owners living in the canyon four miles from Highway 115 have heard sirens from <br /> emergency vehicles on the highway. This doesn't happen all the time, so it is unclear what <br /> factors cause this to happen. Limited, short duration,tests intended to determine decibel levels <br /> of sounds generated by quarry operations may not uncover this acoustic issue. <br /> Although the application states that Transit Mix plans to meet current regulations regarding <br /> noise, nothing is specifically mentioned in the application about how they intend to adequately <br /> control the noise from excavation, rock processing equipment or haul trucks. <br /> 6.3 Dust Generated by Quarry Operations. <br /> Quarry operations will significantly increase dust in the air within the quarry operations area in <br /> the canyon. Transit Mix has indicated that they plan to spray water on the quarry roads, which <br /> may help reduce dust from truck traffic. However,the current mining plan calls for "dry" <br /> operations. The application does not describe specific steps which Transit Mix plans to take to <br /> mitigate the dust generated by drilling operations for blasting, nor for the crushing and screening <br /> of rocks. For example, no mention is made whether the processing plant will be enclosed in <br /> order to reduce the amount of dust sent into the canyon from rock processing. <br /> Until vegetation covers the top soil and fines piles,there will also be a significant amount of <br /> exposed soil stored in piles within the canyon. The topography of the quarry operations area will <br /> cause much of the dust to settle temporarily within the quarry operations area in the canyon, as <br />