2016-04-19_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 ‎(11)‎

• Permit No: M2016010
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 4/19/2016
• Doc Name: Letter of Opposition
• From: Highway 115 Citizens Advisory Committee
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: AME
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

RECENTED
APR 19 2016
April 13th, 2016 DIVISION OF RECLAMATION
MINING AND SAFETY
Ms. Amy Eschberger
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Dear Ms. Eschberger,
We recently received notice that Transit Mix Concrete Company (a subsidiary of Continental
Materials Corporation, a non-resident entity based in Chicago, IL) has applied for DRMS Permit
No. M-2016-010 to open a new quarry on Hitch Rack Ranch near Colorado Springs, Colorado.
On March 2nd, Mr. Jerry Schnabel of Transit Mix Concrete Co., presented the quarry plan to the
property owners and residents along Highway 115. No one in attendance expressed support for
the quarry.
As a committee comprised of property owners along Southwest Highway 115 that encompasses
over 250 properties, including the Turkey Canyon Ranch (TCR) Homeowners Association
(HOA), the Pinons of TCR HOA, Highlands of TCR HOA, Red Rock Valley Estates
Neighborhood Association, Eagle's Nest Association, the Ridgewood Estates HOA and property
owners within the former Bauer Ranch, the committee unanimously objects to Transit Mix
Concrete Company's proposal for the following reasons:
1. Transit Mix's proposal to open and operate a quarry in this area does not comply with
El Paso County's Southwest Highway 115 Development Plan.
2. There are already three quarries in operation along a five mile stretch of Highway 115.
The Transit Mix proposal would make it four quarries within eight miles of roadway that provides
no alternative routes for residents.
3. Little Turkey Creek Road is the sole access road for the home and property owners in
the Eagle's Nest development located to the west of the proposed quarry operations area.
Likewise, the road that runs along Deadman's Creek is the sole access road for those property
owners of the former Bauer Ranch area located to the north of the quarry area. Blasting and
quarry operations will deny or inhibit these property owners access to their homes and
properties.
4. Blasting operations and excavation will generate landslides affecting access along
Little Turkey Creek Road.
5. Despite claims made in Transit Mix's application, long term blasting operations will
impact wells, the underlying water table, and water quality. The President of Transit Mix
Concrete Co. personally told one resident that he would feel the effects of blasting at his home.
Additionally, excavation and the removal of vegetation in the quarry areas will exacerbate flash
flooding and contaminate runoff along Little Turkey Creek. Potential fuel spills, use of herbicides
to clear noxious weeds and other contaminate run off will impact wells located near the creek.
The data in Transit Mix's application for the 100 year, 24 hour and 10 year, 24 hour storms is not
accurate for the proposed mining area and, therefore, the proposed mitigation measures are
inadequate.
6. Any industrial activity in this area increases the risk of wildfire which, is the number
one threat to the people and properties along SW Highway 115. It is interesting that Transit
Mix's application addresses hurricanes in the Emergency Action Plan but does not address
wildfires.
7. The proposed quarry area is a part of the The Nature Conservancy of Colorado's
Aiken Canyon Potential Conservation Area and identified by the Colorado Natural Heritage
Program as a B2 site (Very high significance). The site is mapped by the US Fish and Wildlife