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Daniel G.Hobbs <br /> PO Box 411 Avondale, Colorado 81022 <br /> April 13, 2016 RECEIVED <br /> Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety APR 14 2016 <br /> 1313 Sherman Street Room 215 <br /> Denver, CO. 80203 <br /> DIVISION OF RECLAMATION <br /> SAFETY <br /> Dear Sir/Madam, MINING AND SAFE <br /> I recently learned that Fremont Paving&Redi-Mix Inc.is seeking a permit for a <br /> gravel mining operation in Pueblo County, Colorado known as the "441h Lane Project".This <br /> letter is my objection to that permit application. <br /> I live and farm at 46000 Olson Road in Avondale, near the proposed permit site. I <br /> attended a public meeting in 2014 when Fremont Paving applied for and was denied a <br /> special use permit by Pueblo County.There was wide-spread community opposition at that <br /> time and it continues today, mainly because the proposed project location borders prime <br /> agricultural land. <br /> I understand that there is high quality,easily accessible aggregate material in the <br /> hills where Fremont Paving wishes to set-up operations. But there is also high quality <br /> material in other parts of the river valley that is not adjacent to farms, agricultural ditches <br /> and laterals, and people's homes.The highest and best land use in the Avondale area is <br /> agriculture. Colorado State University Rocky Ford Research Center Director, Dr. Bartolo, <br /> recently asserted that farmland in Pueblo County is some of the Best in the western United <br /> States (Dr. Michael Bartolo, presentation in Pueblo Colorado, Nov 2015). <br /> I am extremely concerned that any reclamation efforts at the proposed site will be <br /> unsuccessful and insufficient due to our and climate and massive summer flood events that <br /> are all too common lately. I am not aware of any successful reclamation efforts in Pueblo or <br /> Otero Counties.The pits just outside of Rocky Ford are an example of poor revegetation <br /> results in this region. <br /> I also object to the project on the basis that agricultural infrastructure such as <br /> ditches,laterals, and even farm fields could be injured during major rain run-off events <br /> during operations and after attempted reclamation.The Badger Hills carry a lot of water <br /> during big rains,the water has to go somewhere, and there is farmland all around.The thin <br /> buffer areas between the site and the Bessemer Ditch represented in Fremont Paving's <br /> application appear to be wholly inadequate. <br /> Finally, one of the reasons eastern Pueblo County is such a good farming area is <br /> because of the quality of the water in the Bessemer Ditch. Any level of erosive run-off <br /> entering the ditch and impacting water quality would be unacceptable. <br /> If a permit is granted to Freemont Paving it will place all the risk and burden of <br /> short, medium, and long term damages squarely on the shoulders of the farming <br /> community.Short-term economic benefits for a private company, its employees, and <br /> customers is simply not worth compromising the viability and future of food production in <br /> eastern Pueblo County. Please reject this permit. <br /> Thank you. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Daniel G.Hobbs, Owner/Operator, Hobbs Family Farm <br />