DRMS Comment Objection Intake 8/26/2021 9:50:42 AM

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Comment/Objection Narrative* I am writing to express my opposition to Zephyr Minerals'intent to mine in Fremont County, near Canon City. After educating myself on Zephyr's proposal, I see little to no benefit to Fremont County,or the State of Colorado.The few temporary jobs that might be created are insignificant compared to the potential environmental and economic devastation this offshore company could put into motion. In addition to impacting the fragile Grape Creek/Arkansas River ecosystem,the mine and associated processing mill would have a direct impact on hundreds of nearby homes that were there WELL BEFORE Zephyr ever purchased the property. In addition,this nonessential mine will consume vast quantities of water every year,at a time when the entire Western United States is in the grip of a historic drought. The environmental stakes for this area are EXTREMELY high in this matter;the following is an excerpt from a recent(8/1/21)article on Canon City,written by Michael Karlik,that appeared in the periodical Colorado Politics: "The heart of the urban-river interface lies just south of downtown between Fourth and First streets,with Centennial Park as the"crown jewel,"as the city's parks director called it.A giant splash pad opened in 2018 for those on land,with gently sloping boulders facilitating a step-down into the water. Boogie boarders ride the play wave at the west end.The park's master plan eventually calls for a pedestrian plaza and connection to Main Street,on the other side of the river. And Canon City is not letting the river stand still:The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected it as one of 11 communities nationally to receive a cleanup and revitalization grant,totaling$800,000 for riverfront and downtown planning.Council members also heard recently about plans for a project to improve Whitewater Kayak and Recreation Park,creating a venue for competitions and even Olympic athletes. "We are trying to build a culture in the community so people can be proud of being from here,"a representative from the nonprofit group Royal Gorge RIO told the council at its June 21 meeting. The Arkansas River is still on the mend from Canon City's industrial past,and leaders are trying to figure out how to fill the physical and economic gaps in the process. In the latter part of the 20th century,efforts were underway to abate the industrial pollution.The Bureau of Land Management noted in 1993 that the state had recently worked to stabilize mine waste,and an effort was ongoing to remedy pollution from the Leadville mine drainage tunnel. "All of these studies and projects indicate that the trend for water quality in the Arkansas River is toward improvement,"the agency said. But in 2005,an estimated 50,000 gallons of oil and water spilled into ditches and drainages along the river, which Fremont County attributed to a paving and trucking company. In 2015,Cotter Corp.'s shuttered uranium mill south of the city leaked 1,800 gallons of contaminated water,the latest of at least five incidents at what is now a"Superfund"site.With floods in the 1960s causing ponds at the site to overflow into Sand Creek and contaminate nearby areas,a legal settlement two decades later resulted in Lincoln Park being connected to the municipal water supply and Cotter Corp.cleaning up railroad loading sites in Canon City where uranium ore had spilled. "We have worked very hard getting the town to buy into improving the river corridor,specifically near Centennial Park,"said Chris Moffett,the president of the conservation organization Royal Gorge RIO. The monetary investment has been substantial: Royal Gorge RIO estimated there have been$1.5 million invested since 2010 in the cleanup and upgrade of the river in town between First and Fourth streets. "it is probably one of the most pristine and beautiful rivers there is.They cleaned up an awful lot of the mining waste and things we were having issues with 20 years ago,"said Mannie Colon,a third-generation produce farmer and a director on the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District's board." My request: PLEASE do not approve this mining permit application!The residents of Fremont County have worked long and hard to overcome the problems associated with past mining,and the future looks bright. New trails for hikers and mountain bikers are constantly being opened,and our beautiful county is gaining a reputation as a place for outdoor enthusiasts from all over the country to visit. If this mine is allowed to disrupt our way of life here, it could take generations to recover. Please protect the environment in our state,and the interests of its citizens. Please do not allow some foreign company to enrich itself at our expense. I urge you to disapprove Zephyr's application. Thank you, .Incanh r� ghorir1nn