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Comment/Objection Narrative* <br /> PLEASE do not approve this mining permit application!The application does not have sufficient assurances <br /> that a long-term disaster will not happen or that short term significant problems can be resolved. <br /> The organization submitting the mining permit application is Zephyr Minerals.Zephyr is a Canadian public <br /> company based in Nova Scotia.While they do rent some space in Canon City,they have no roots or facilities in <br /> Colorado or anywhere in the USA.Any money they might ultimately make will be returned to Canada. <br /> Zephyr's worked hard to avoid any environmental impact assessments,and done exploration in the Grape <br /> Creek area which is"two protective federal designations,the Grape Creek Area of Critical Environmental <br /> Concern(ACEC),identified in the BLM's 1996 Royal Gorge Field Office Resource Management Plan(RMP), <br /> and the Lower Grape Creek Wilderness Study Area(WSA)."Clearly they are avoiding thorough evaluation of <br /> their operations. <br /> The location of the proposed mine is approximately: <br /> •4 miles southwest of downtown Canon City <br /> • 1.5 miles from Canon City Limits <br /> • 1.3 miles from Grape Creek <br /> WATER RISKS <br /> The mine site at 6,500 feet elevation is 1,000 feet higher elevation than Grape Creek and the Arkansas river. It <br /> is upstream from the water plant intake for Fremont County.Any discharge from mining operations will find its <br /> way to the aquifers underground and/or the water flows.The mining operation would use approximately <br /> 65,000,000 gallons of water per year and an unspecified amount of chemicals.With the site just 1,000 feet <br /> above the Grape Creek and Arkansas River area,this creates the potential for pollution of the water for present <br /> and future generations. <br /> FIRE RISKS <br /> The permit is non-specific in the amount of water reserved for fire mitigation. It states"sufficient."There is no <br /> Fire Protection plan associated with the current application. <br /> CHEMICAL RISKS <br /> Chemicals that will be used in specified processing include: <br /> -Potassium Amyl Xanthate-2,250 Ibs onsite <br /> -Methyl IsoButyl Carbinol-900 Ibs <br /> -Generic anionic emulsion flocculent-450 Ibs <br /> That's 3,600 pounds of chemicals to be stored onsite and refreshed as needed. No one knows how these <br /> chemicals will interact with the ore taken from the mine and whether they will become toxic or not. <br /> RECLAMATION FUNDS INADEQUATE <br /> Only$261,813 has been reserved for reclamation of the"affected area"when the mine shuts down. For 82 <br /> acres?With no inflation factored into the figures?Even without structures,concrete pads,holding ponds,etc., <br /> 82 acres could not be professionally landscaped for$261,813.The reclamation allocation is too small and is not <br /> adjusted for inflation. <br /> FIRE RISKS <br /> There is no allocation funds to address an unexpected fire,explosion, pollution leakage,or power outage. <br /> Zephyr has to seek additional funding to operate a mine or sell off to a larger concern.Without a requirement <br /> for a"problem reserve",where would money come from to mitigate a significant problem? <br /> Permit Number* <br /> Enter valid letter and then numbers,for example M122112211 or C123456789. <br /> M2021046 <br /> Permitting Action Type <br /> Select revision type or leave blank if comment pertains to a new permit application or NOI <br /> Permit Type <br />