2018-12-12_REVISION - M2018016 (7)

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' Vulnerability to Health.Risks Significant increases in respiratory ailments are a concern for residents near sand ' and gravel mining. Mining, processing and transporting sand and gravel generate large quantities of silica dust,which is known to damage respiratory systems when inhaled. Studies of residential populations chronically exposed to dust show ' shortened life expectancy and high rates of cancer, infectious diseases, respiratory and heart disease, reproductive pathologies, adverse pregnancy outcomes, anemia, birth defects, and infant mortality. Children and the elderly, as well as groups with pre-existing lung or heart disease, are particularly vulnerable. ' DMRM understands that the excavation and processing of sand and gravel has the potential to raise significant quantities of this type of dust if not adequately controlled. DMRM proposals outline a number of controls to minimize dust generation ensuring that the mine will stay in compliance with all state dust regulations.43 ' However, the DMRM suggested methods are not necessarily the best. One study indicates that chemical dust suppressants are the most effective at controlling dust at the gravel processing site but that these methods are much more costly. The ' other control strategies that DMRM is suggesting, however, can work if they include increasing the frequency of water spraying, implementing the use of windbreak fencing, and re-vegetation.44 Further review and more information about DMRM's ' methods of controlling dust would help us understand if they are using the best approaches possible. ' Nonetheless, according to the Environmental Protection Agency,there is no evidence of a safe level of exposure or a threshold below which adverse health effects will not ' occur from gravel mining.45 Exposure is influenced by proximity to the source, i.e., close proximity leads to higher exposure and higher risk. Other factors include winds and 43 DMRM-July 2018 states: "Stockpiles and roads will be watered as needed to minimize dust.This will occur multiple times a day during the height of the summer and less frequently in colder or lower activity times of the year.All crushing and screening ' equipment will operate with spray bars to wet the material during processing and is a proven very effective method of dust control.Stockpiles of topsoil and overburden that will be in place longer than 120 days will be seeded with vegetation to prevent erosion and the ' spread of dust. Crushed gravel will be placed on areas of the site that are regularly trafficked including the access road. Due to the regularly changing nature of the interior of the site, no areas will be paved.' ' 44 Chang, Chang-Tang et al. 2012. "Fugitive Dust Emission Source Profiles and Assessment of Selected Control Strategies for Particulate Matter at Gravel Processing Sites in Taiwan," Journal of the Air&Waste Management Association, page 1268. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2109OSS4 ' 45https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/particle/pm-color.pd 17 1