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Alternate Phone Number <br /> Used only to follow up. <br /> Alternate Phone Extension <br /> Connection to Operation <br /> Select all that apply <br /> Land Owner of affected land Structure Owner within 200' of affected land <br /> Mineral Owner Nearby Resident <br /> Adjacent Land Owner Concerned Citizen <br /> Government Agency Other <br /> DESCRIPTION OF COMMENT OR OBJECTION <br /> (Please be as specific as possible) <br /> Comment/Objection Narrative <br /> I have frequented this area in the past for nearby fishing and have concerns. <br /> WATER:The mine site is 1,000 feet higher elevation than Grape Creek and the Arkansas River. It is upstream <br /> from the water plant intake for Fremont County.Any discharge from mining operations could find its way to the <br /> aquifers underground and/or the water flows.The mining operation would use approximately 65 million gallons <br /> of water per year and an unspecified amount of chemicals.This creates the potential for pollution of the water <br /> for present and future generations. <br /> The demand on underground aquifers has been estimated in the permit as"insignificant"but there is no <br /> monitoring or measures to be sure that the demand is having an"insignificant"impact.All new demand on our <br /> aquifers is significant in this type of extreme drought. <br /> FIRE RISK: How many unexpected disasters have resulted from mining?It is certainly possible that the <br /> proposed Dawson Gold Mine could be yet another disaster in the making. <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. How could government entities approve the permit <br /> without an assurance of being able to mitigate a fire before it becomes a wildfire?The mine location is in a <br /> juniper forest,semi-arid climate which is essentially a tinder box. <br /> There would be"approximately 13,000 pounds of explosives onsite for up to a week of blasting activity... <br /> replenished weekly".Adding explosives to an area already a tinder box for a wild fire could create a wildfire that <br /> wipes out the entire region particularly without an established fire protection plan.Why incur this risk? <br /> RECLAMATION FUNDS: Only$261,813 has been reserved for reclamation of the"affected area"when the <br /> mine shuts down. For 82 acres?With no inflation factored into the figures?Even without structures,concrete <br /> pads, holding ponds,etc.,82 acres could not be professionally landscaped for$261,813.The reclamation <br /> allocation is too small and is not adjusted for inflation.What happens if Zephyr files for bankruptcy or <br /> disappears leaving us with another taxpayer cleanup. <br /> EMERGENCY FUNDS:There is no allocation funds to address an unexpected fire,explosion, pollution <br /> leakage,or power outage.Zephyr has to seek additional funding to operate a mine or sell off to a larger <br /> concern.Without a requirement for a"problem reserve",where would money come from to mitigate a significant <br /> problem? <br /> The application does not have sufficient assurances that a long-term disaster will not happen or that short-term <br /> significant problems can be resolved. I am strongly opposed to it and respectfully request that you deny this <br /> application. <br /> Permit Number* <br /> Enter valid letter and then numbers,for example M122112211 or C123456789. <br /> M2021046 <br />