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1 <br /> ' Perhaps the immediate objection to a ravel it near Empire, Colorado was the fear <br /> p l g P P <br /> ' that new gravel pit activity would create the same type of environmental <br /> destruction as the gravel mining operation at the Walstrum Quarry, owned and <br /> operated by Alfred Frei and Sons since 1982, that is clearly visible from I-70 at the <br /> ' base of Floyd Hill (see Photograph 1). <br /> DMRM promised that Douglas Mountain would visually shield the mining operation <br /> ' from the south side and the location would provide a buffer on the north, so that the <br /> town of Empire, in general,would not see the site.3 However, DMRM also <br /> acknowledged that there would be areas not buffered or blocked from view. In <br /> ' particular, they state that residences on slopes or mountains above the project area <br /> are not"bufferable." Those at these elevated locations would always be able to see <br /> the site from their property.4 Yet traffic from I-70 Exit 232 to and from Empire also has <br /> ' a clear view of the Douglas Mountain plateau! <br /> Photograph 1: Walstrum Quarry <br /> 46, <br /> While it would be unfortunate for visitors expecting to see beautiful mountain <br /> landscapes to be met with a gravel pit,this is the least of the Friends of Clear Creek's <br /> concerns. <br /> ' 3 DMRM-July 2018,page 19. <br /> 4 DMRM-July 2018, page 35. <br /> 5 <br />