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use taxes that could be due as part of a mineral extraction operation. <br /> Finally,mining projects are going to become more critical for building new infrastructure as the world transitions <br /> from a fossil fuel based energy supply to a renewables supply.While I don't believe that fossil fuel demand will <br /> evaporate in its entirety,one cannot deny the growth of renewable energy sources.Solar panels, batteries and <br /> wind turbines require raw materials that are mined to be manufactured,and transmission of energy to homes, <br /> businesses,cars and any other electronic device you may possess requires mined resources.Gold is a highly <br /> efficient conductor of electricity and is currently found today in many electronic devices.The World Gold Council <br /> estimates that up to 50 milligrams of gold(worth about 50 cents)is in every cell phone-which sounds small, <br /> but approximately 1.38 billion cell phones were sold in just 2020-so it adds up(about$69 billion in value).As <br /> our reliance on electricity grows,efficient conductors will become more valuable-and gold is a notable <br /> conductor,with only silver and copper better at conduction. Mining projects in the United States are subject to <br /> some of the most intensive regulation and environmental protections in the world-we should want these <br /> projects to be done here,where we can institute protections for health,safety and the environment as well as <br /> labor protections that don't exist in other countries. <br /> Many of the other criticisms of this proposed project equate to a type of NIMBY-ism that is far more harmful to <br /> the community in the future than any potential harm that might occur if the proposed project were to go forward: <br /> -Fire is a hazard from any activity that might occur in the mountains surrounding Canon City-and the vast <br /> majority of those activities will not be subject to stringent regulation or inspection,or require insurance to pay for <br /> potential damages from any potential fires that could occur. <br /> -Water sources can be protected and isolated from any mining activity-and those protections can be <br /> inspected and enforced. Modern mining techniques have eliminated many of the environmental hazards mining <br /> in the past has created,which are frequently cited by critics of this project.This is not 1880 or even 1980. <br /> -This is a subterranean mining project-it will not be an open pit mine like Cripple Creek or the molybdenum <br /> mine in Climax.Twenty Mile Coal Mine in Routt County is a subterranean mine similar to this proposal-most <br /> people wouldn't even know that it is there if they drove by it unless they saw a sign. It is possible to have a <br /> mining project that will not destroy the beauty of the landscape in which it exists. <br /> -DRMS's bonding process requires that Zephyr ensure the project can be reclaimed once extraction is <br /> complete-again, not like the'old"mines where they were simply abandoned. Modern reclamation techniques <br /> can make even open pit mines hard to spot. <br /> In today's political climate,any approval of a mineral extraction project will draw criticism. However,there is a <br /> truth regarding raw materials: If it can't be grown, it has to be mined.We should mine in the United States,and <br /> particularly here in Colorado.We can do it better and safer than anyone else in the world.Our communities will <br /> benefit from those jobs. I urge DRMS to approve this permit. <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 /> Designated Mining Operation <br /> County <br /> Fremont <br /> Enter one county only <br /> Site Name <br /> Dawson Gold Mine <br /> Perm ittee/Operator Name <br /> Zephyr Gold USA Ltd <br /> ADDITIONAL INFORMATION <br />