2019-10-18_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1987143

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RECENED Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety October 5, 2019 OCT 18 2019 1313 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80203 DIVISION OF RECLAMATION MINING&SAFETY Dear Sirs, There is growing local concern over the ecological damage being done by CRG Mining northwest of Pitkin. CRG Mining is working outside of any DRMS permitted area. Proof of this is shown on their own map, https://www.asx.com.au/;,-,--if/201 r)00nr�,Indf 4487xr1hrIfr,v3n.pdf. The Hill vein shown on the map is well outside any DRMS permit. At this location is a newly excavated mine opening with a large cut into the hillside and many downed trees. Other environmental destruction can be found all over the mountain,again outside of any DRMS permitted area. A Certificate of Minor Impact (2018-00049)was approved last March by the County despite almost unanimous public opposition. In that document are listed several conditions that must be followed. Among them: "The applicant shall obtain all required State or Federal approvals or permits prior to the commencement of the drilling operation." CRG Mining falsely states, "the exploration area is located entirely on private/patented mineral claims." The Gunnison National Forest land within CRG Mining's ycploration boundary can clearly be seen on the attached County GIS map. i here is no Federal approval for the work done in the Gunnison National Forest. CRG Mining's roads have crossed USFS land and caused significant damage to the forest. "The applicant shall comply with the applicable standards identified in Section 9-405:General Development Standards for Mining Operations,Gunnison County Land Use Resolution." Minor impact for a mining operation "affects no more than two surface acres of land". Far more than two acres have been affected. Historic, often overgrown roads have been expanded from 8' to 10'wide to 15'to 20' wide with areas that are+20'wide. Pine trees and dirt have been pushed aside and now rest on either side of the roads. No attempt has been made to store disturbed topsoil for reclamation as required under Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety guidelines. "This permit may be revoked or suspended if Gunnison County determines that any material fact set forth herein or represented by the applicant was false or misleading". Since there is no Federal approval from the USFS, surface disturbance exceeds the two acres allowed, and Colorado DRMS are not being followed, we are asking the County to revoke this permit. We are also asking the County to require all future permits be classified as major impact or special development projects. We are also hoping that your agency can help stop this environmental destruction from getting any worse. As supporting documentation of the widespread ecological damage,we are including photos of the destruction of CRG's work. Please help us save our mountain. Sincerely yours, Quartz Creek Property Owners Pitkin, Colorado CC: Gunnison County Community and Economic Development Department, U.S. Forest Service,Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, High Country Conservation Advocates