2018-07-10_PERMIT FILE - M2018016 (11)

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Peter Hayes Recei veo Department of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety dik 'O 1Q18 1313 Sherman Street Room 215 blip Nge�i,�C�,q Denver, CO 80203 '4AZ& r�ATi Subject: Permit#M2018016, Douglas Mountain Mine Project ""��YY July 5, 2018 Dear Mr. Hays, I am a very concerned citizen in opposition to the development of a strip mine operation in Clear Creek County. My husband and I moved to Empire in January 2008 and have invested over 500,000 in this town building from the ground up a building with 4 apartments, retail spaces, including our Mountain Xpress Coffee Shop. One of the things that bother us the most is the noise pollution from all the trucks going to Henderson Mine and elsewhere. We are violently opposed to any further noise from drilling or trucks, and traffic congestion that this project will bring on. Here also are more of our concerns as well as the town-people: 1. Wildlife Empire is home to the famous Georgetown herd of Bighorn Sheep. This herd is one of the largest Bighorn Sheep populations in the state and requires a large habitat with a range of elevations to avoid disease. The proposed mining development would destroy the only remaining natural plateau in Clear Creek County. This plateau is a natural habitat and migration corridor for elk, deer, moose, bear, and mountain lions- in addition to the famous Bighorn Sheep. Aggregate mining causes higher than average concentrations of Pb, As, Cu, Ni, Cd, Hg, Ag and Zr. These higher concentrations may have very negative effects on plants and animals in the area and cause diseases such as brain and kidney damage, lung irritation, cardiac abnormality and eventual death to plants and animals. Land erosion and silt from the proposed mine would potentially contaminate Clear Creek, disturbing fish habitat that has greatly improved in recent years. 2. Water