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This missing information is very important to the nearby subdivision of Dawson Ranch. If Zephyr does not <br /> currently have or cannot find long term monitoring data relative to wind direction and velocity of prevailing <br /> winds,then they need to set up monitoring stations to be able to provide this very critical information. <br /> Other Comments: <br /> In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency dated October 8,2010,the Division of Reclamation, Mining <br /> And Safety wrote that,"In fact,the Act and regulations are specifically intended to implement permit <br /> requirements that mitigate the risk of environmental damage by requiring protection measures during mining <br /> and reclamation....Requirements such as those associated with Designated Mining Operations....are in place <br /> to substantially reduce future risks to the environment and the public." <br /> And yet the Guide to Citizen Participation in the 112 Reclamation Permit Application Process for Construction <br /> Material and Hard Rock/Metal Mining Operations specifically and drastically limits what the DRMS/Board will <br /> consider when receiving comments on Zephyr's Mine application that would"reduce future risk to the <br /> environment and the public", by stating that,"The Board's jurisdiction does not extend to land use decisions, <br /> visual or economic impacts, noise,traffic,dust and other nuisances,or socioeconomic issues. Local <br /> government,through the local land use and planning and permitting process, handles these issues.The Board <br /> and the Division do not have authority in such matters. Likewise, impacts to air quality,threatened or <br /> endangered species,discharges into waters of the United States and historic resource protections are <br /> regulated by agencies other than the Board." <br /> What the DRMS is telling the public is that it will leave decisions involving potential impacts of this mining <br /> application relative to air quality,T&E species, pollution of the Arkansas River, pollution of Grape Creek, <br /> economic impacts,visual impacts, noise,traffic/road damage,fugitive dust problems,socio-economic issues, <br /> etc.to a county commission board comprised of three people who have no expertise nor interest in any of <br /> these,what should be,very important environmental factors. Not only do the county commissioners have no <br /> expertise concerning these very important environmental issues, but unlike the DRMS and the Board,they do <br /> not have access to persons who have the necessary expertise to be able to comment knowledgeably on these <br /> subjects and pass those recommendations on them. Land use decisions by the County Commissioners are <br /> based in great part on a conscious effort to be re-elected.We believe that the DRMS/Board has both the legal <br /> and inferred obligation to include in their consideration such matters in a manner that does not clinically exclude <br /> "future risks to the environment and the public." <br /> Noise and Vibration <br /> There is no discussion of noise and vibration that will come from the proposed Zephyr gold mine.Ambient noise <br /> needs to be recognized as an issue with the Dawson Ranch and Wolf Park Subdivisions less than a mile away <br /> from the proposed mine location. Noise is defined as any unwanted sound and the mine will change the noise <br /> levels in the area. <br /> This mine will generate noise because of the following broad categories of activities: <br /> *Construction <br /> *Blasting for mine portal <br /> *Mining <br /> *Ore and Waste Hauling <br /> 'Tailings and waste rock disposal <br /> *Ore processing and gold recovery <br /> *Construction and operation of supporting infrastructure <br /> At present and in the past the area surrounding the mine and in the Dawson Ranch subdivision is relatively <br /> quiet,typical of a peaceful remote environment.There is minor noise associated with intermittent traffic on <br /> Temple Canyon Road and an occasional fly over from aircraft.There is no vibration from earthquakes or <br /> seismic activities.This quiet environment is one of the main reasons that people have built and reside in homes <br /> in the nearby Dawson Ranch and Wolf Park. <br /> The following items should be considered as part of this application process: •Background noise; <br /> Construction noise; •Operation noise, including supporting infrastructure; •Closure,decommissioning,and <br /> post-closure noise; •The effects of noise on the ambient environment, including humans and wildlife and what <br /> mitigating measures Zephyr might take to ameliorate problems. <br />