Laserfiche WebLink
3. Air Quality and Health <br /> • The Empire Valley is noted for high winds descending from the Continental Divide. A gravel <br /> mining operation will inevitably create massive, uncontrollable clouds of dust and unknown <br /> contaminants, risking respiratory issues for residents. Numerous studies have linked elevated <br /> particle levels in the air to increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits and premature <br /> deaths. Quotes from residents living near a gravel pit: <br /> "My daughter, who was a toddler at the time, would wake me up almost every night covered <br /> in blood from nosebleeds, which 1 believe were caused by the excessive dust coming from the <br /> pit." <br /> "My children would wake up in the night crying "mommy, water, mommy, 1 can't breathe." <br /> • The Easter Seals Rocky Mountain Village (est. 1951) is directly east of the proposed mine and <br /> would be downwind on most days. The air pollutants will negatively affect the 1200 special <br /> needs campers who attend this camp every year. They have come here to enjoy the Rocky <br /> Mountains and the clean fresh air for nearly 70 years. Many have respiratory issues. <br /> 4. Safety <br /> • With over 300 trucks operating in the mine,the resulting increased traffic along the 1-70 and <br /> Hwy 6 corridors would greatly impact those already congested roadways. <br /> • Significant increases in traffic not only causes more accidents, it also causes elevated stress <br /> levels and a significant decrease in the quality of life for those living in the congested area. <br /> A Possible Alternative <br /> The county has expressed interest in a fair purchase of the land for open space development. This <br /> would be a much preferable use of this land and beneficial to all the residents and wildlife of Clear Creek <br /> County. <br /> In conclusion, I am among the majority of Clear Creek County residents who are adamantly opposed to <br /> this development. Aside from destroying the character of historic Empire,this proposed gravel pit <br /> would alter the quality of the ground water, destroy the nearby wetlands, devastate local wildlife, <br /> create massive clouds of unknown contaminants, and cause even more traffic problems along the most <br /> congested portion of 1-70 on the gateway corridor to the Rocky Mountains. We are hopeful that our <br /> government will listen to our concerns and weigh our community's needs and values, not just the special <br /> interests of a few people who want to exploit the environment and the community to line their pockets. <br /> There are alternatives(e.g., open space)that could meet the needs of all concerned. <br /> Thank you for your time and best regards, <br /> Linda Robertson <br /> 192 E.Clear Creek Drive <br /> Empire,CO 80438 <br /> tel: 303-502-4691 <br /> email: linmarie.robertson@gmail.com <br />