2018-12-12_REVISION - M2018016 (7)

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' would raise math te st scores by 0.15 percent, 0.34 percent, or 0.18 percent, while a 10 percent decrease in outdoor PM2.5 increases reading scores by 0.21 percent.55 Increases in respiratory ailments from the DMRM would affect the most vulnerable ' populations in Clear Creek County- children and the elderly. While we cannot say for certain how much the DMRM might increase respiratory disease in Clear Creek County, research findings are clear that there is a non-zero risk to health from gravel ' pit particulates. While we do not know to what extent the DMRM's mitigation plan to reduce of dust and particulates will be effective, or which communities will suffer, we can say that any increases in illness or death among children and the elderly are ' not worth the risk. The average cost of the treatment for bronchitis in a doctor's office is $75.00 per ' visit,while the treatment of chronic bronchitis and COPD averages $1,484 to $2,911 annually.56 In 2000, monthly lung-cancer treatment during the first six months of care for a 72-year old ranged from $2,687 (no active treatment) to $9,360 (chemo- ' radiotherapy).57 Given continued escalation in health care costs, expenses for the care of respiratory illness in 2018 are now higher. While Clear Creek County could monitor increases in respiratory illness among the most susceptible members of the population, and even ensure that medical expenses will be reimbursed for those without adequate insurance, these mitigation ' measures cannot reverse damage to the health of the population. Furthermore,the possibility of ensuing lawsuits could be expensive for Clear Creek County and the ' DMRM. Real Estate Vulnerability Empire residents are vulnerable to reductions in real estate prices for their properties should the DMRM sand-and-gravel operation be approved. Extensive economic research has shown that properties next to gravel pits and quarries are less desirable due to noise, traffic congestion, environmental factors and health ' concerns. We have estimated conservatively that median assessed property values in Empire would fall by 12.7 percent from $213,199 to $178,910 due to the DMRM. ' Our analysis uses the results from a study based on a statistical technique known as the 'hedonic pricing' that compares the values of properties close to a gravel pit to properties with no gravel pit in the vicinity.58 Studies using this technique have ' 55 http://www.econweb.umd.edu/—ham/test%20scores0/02Osubmit.pdf ' 56 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12628879 57 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150743/ 58 Hedonic pricing adjusts selling prices of properties for normal factors such as number of rooms,square footage,lot size and other attributes that a home more or less desirable for prospective buyers. It also can adjust property prices for factors related to location, 20 t