Laserfiche WebLink
' Additional Costs of Traf is Congestion: The average expected flow of 310 additional <br /> daily vehicle round-trips back and forth from Denver to Exit 232 on I-70,primarily <br /> very heavy gravel dump trucks,will increase highway repair costs and add to <br /> ' congestion. Additional highway taxes from DMRM's trucks will not pay for the <br /> damage. Worsening congestion will present a risk to outdoor recreational tourism, <br /> constraining today's expanding economic activity in Summit and Grand Counties. <br /> This risk is too large to ignore, although its full effects may only become fully <br /> apparent once the damage is done. <br /> ' Risks to Vulnerable Wildlife: Even with mitigation measures in place, the risk of <br /> unforeseen consequences is high. A Black Swan event may occur, as it is impossible <br /> to forecast to what extent vulnerable wildlife populations will or will not recover <br /> once habitat and migration patterns are disturbed. In the case of bighorn sheep, one <br /> single gravel mine could cancel years of careful planning instituted by the CPW and <br /> the US Forest Service to support the iconic Georgetown Bighorn Herd. <br /> ' Risks to Vulnerable Water Resources: Even if the best mitigation measures are <br /> implemented by DMRM, there is a non-zero risk of pollution and poisoning of Clear <br /> ' Creek watershed resources. As we know from past mining incidents, clean up is a <br /> very expensive process -- this is what helped create the Superfund for Clear Creek <br /> in 1983. Such a negative externality would ruin recreational industries such as <br /> fishing and rafting and present health hazards for household water use from the <br /> Clear Creek watershed. Colorado surely does not want to be another Flint, Michigan. <br /> ' Challenges of Rehabilitation: Restored mining sites are generally not as stable as <br /> they were before mining, even with the best of intentions. And they may be much <br /> ' worse off ecologically. This suggests that the justification for mining projects must <br /> be evaluated carefully in terms of total potential societal costs and uncertainties <br /> before going ahead. Unsuccessful reclamation combined with a series of risks <br /> leading to unintended consequences is the worst of all possible worlds. <br /> Who are the Vulnerable: Individuals, businesses,government and the environment <br /> ' are all vulnerable to the risks discussed above. <br /> Property owners will face reduced real estate sales prices; families exposed to mine <br /> ' dust may be subject to serious respiratory ailments, incapacitating the very young <br /> and very old disproportionately; motorists face greater traffic congestion with <br /> increased vehicle operating costs, possible adverse health impacts and even death. <br /> ' Vacationers will travel far astray for recreational pursuits. <br /> Businesses will face reduced revenues, particularly those engaged in outdoor <br /> ' recreational tourism, due to increased traffic; damage to wildlife habitats and water <br /> systems may similarly reduce the revenue of enterprises supporting hunting, <br /> fishing, and white water rafting. Business losses will extend to Summit and Grand <br /> 31 <br />