2016-10-11_PERMIT FILE - M2016009

• Permit No: M2016009
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 10/11/2016
• Doc Name: Comment Response
• From: Colorado State Land Board
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: ERR
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

1COLORADO
State Land Board
i
RECEIVED
VIOL eMwi I
October 11, 2016 OCT 112016
M
Mr. Elliott R. Russell MININGAND WEW
Environmental Protection Specialist
Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
RE: Pueblo County Aggregate Project; DRMS File M-2016-009
Dear Mi. Russell:
The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners (State Land Board) is the major mineral owner and
Lessor on lands applicable to the above referenced Construction Materials Reclamation Permit
application filed by the current Lessee, Fremont Paving and Redi-Mix, Inc. (Fremont).
The State Land Board supports this application for several reasons pertaining to our mission:
1. Long Term Benefits to Colorado Schools. As trustees, the State Land Board manages nearly 4
million acres of state owned mineral rights to generate revenue for our beneficiaries, the largest
being the School Trust, which supports K-12 public education. Mineral development is a significant
source of revenue on state trust lands, including extraction and processing of natural sand and
gravel deposits as proposed by M-2016-009. Trust land minerals are developed through a lease
between a mineral developer, such as Fremont, and the State Land Board, with the trusts earning
revenue from minerat rentals and royalties. Most of the mineral revenue supports funding for K-12
education throughout Colorado, including Pueblo County. During the last fiscal year, the State Land
Board generated over $107 million in revenues solely pertaining to minerals development.
2. Immediate Benefits to Public Schools. School Trust revenues benefit K 12 public schools through
allocation in the state's annual budget for public education, and the Building Excellent Schools
Today (BEST) Program that supports capital improvements to school facilities across the state.
Since 2008, over $435 million in funds for the BEST Program were generated by the State Land
Board. BEST has impacted over 350 school facilities in 119 school districts throughout the state.
However, the benefits to public schools in Colorado can only be realized when trust minerals are
actually developed and revenues are received by the State Land Board.
3. Mitigation of Short-Term Impacts. The State Land Board fully supports and apprec iate� the work
of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) to balance the need for mineral resource
Production with protection of the public, environment and Colorado's natural resourt.es. To that
end, the State Land Board includes stipulations in its minerals leases which require approval of
reclamation plans submitted to the DRMS pursuant to the Color ado Mused Land Reclamation Act. All
mineral lessees are required to comply with all laws that affect or control mining or other
operations of the lessee, including those that regulate an quality, water quality, traffic and road
use, reclamation, mine worker safety and public safety. White other agencies are responsible for
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1127 Sherman Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80203-2206 P 303,866,3454 F 303.866.3152
www.cotoi-ado.gov/LrListlands
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