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t� <br /> June 21 2k18 RECEIVED <br /> DNR Colorado <br /> Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety JUN 2 6 2m <br /> 1313 Sherman St. Room 215 <br /> Denver, CO 80203 DIVISION OF RECLAMATION <br /> Attn: Mr Peter Hayes, <br /> MINING AND SAFETI( <br /> Environmental Protection Specialist <br /> Ref: <br /> Douglas Mountain Mine, Clear Creek County, CO File No. W291"16 <br /> Sir, am currently reviewing a copy of 112c Construction Materials Reclamation Permit <br /> Application Notice, copy to "the Town of Empire" Dated May 14 2018. Ref. Data noted. <br /> Please be aware: in the east section of the considered plateau site, proposed access road area; <br /> originating from a min. of 300 ft up on the Douglas Mtn shoulders down and six hundred or so <br /> (estimated) yards to the northeast across Pal's Parcel down and across the gas-line access cuts <br /> onto the Atchison Parcel (orig: Placer#6, 1881) to the Mad/Clear Creek West Fork channel— <br /> there is a year-round fan of seeps and springs, surface and near-surface, water system <br /> supporting and enriching the bio-diverse environment. <br /> This pristine environment, including the "Clapper Ditch" supports the grazing and breeding <br /> grounds for local elk and deer herds; moose; the highly stress-susceptible Rocky Mtn Bighorn <br /> Sheep collective who's habitat runs continuously next to the proposed excavation disruption <br /> and even drifts down from that Dept of Wildlife's "Protective Sheep Keep" onto the plateau <br /> level itself. From Columbia Peak on the southwest their traverse is up across the Douglas Mtn <br /> Ridge, then progresses down the Douglas Mtn formations. They safety on the "Douglas Mtn <br /> Ranch and Preserve" plateau before continuing to the northeast, the crags across the junction <br /> interchange/State Hwy 40. <br /> Any sort of excavation in this area, including deepened re-grading of the surface gravel <br /> access road/gas-line easement will interrupt this expanse of purified water flow and its <br /> statutorily protected environmental purpose. Not to mention the gross disruption and <br /> decimation of this bio-habitat with associative overburdening noise, contamination and stress. <br /> Environmental protection being one of the declared primary fiduciary statutes & obligations of <br /> the DNR/Mining & Safety; your department in addition, certainly cannot ignore the increased <br /> disruptive potential: "upwards of 300 trucks daily" loading their exhaust and the resulting <br /> construction dust into the air. Pause to consider: "300 trucks in an 8 hr period." This breaks <br /> down to 38 trucks in and 38 trucks out(76 total) every hour. One truck passage every 47 <br /> seconds. Unacceptable. This is the Lewicki's estimate, daily, for just the sand/gravel truck <br /> traffic portion of the operation; they neglected to offer during their public address, until <br /> prompted, information on the additional asphalt and concrete portion and the eventual gold <br /> extraction and processing traffic. <br /> Take into consideration the increased silting from the dust overburden that will, without <br /> doubt blanket, saturate and negatively effect the already stressed ichthyological (trout- <br /> specific) environmental quality of Bard Creek, and the Clear Creek West Fork habitat, already of <br /> concern by the Dept of Fish& Wildlife. <br /> Thank you, for conscientiously considering these sensitive environmental issues. <br /> Regards, pl. wick )a <br /> from: the Bard Creek Valley - pl. wick -PO Box 249 Empire, CO 80438-0249 <br /> 303-569-3105 (fax) 3281 e-mail n/a <br /> cc. M. Cunningham, Sr Enviro'Special', DNR Mining&Safety, www.friendsofclearcreek.com, CO Parks & <br /> Wildlife, CO Div Water Res', State Board Land Comm', Clear Crk Plan'Dept., Clear Creek Cnty Commiss'rs <br />