Laserfiche WebLink
Your Phone Number* <br /> Used only to follow up. <br /> 7194291099 <br /> Extension <br /> 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 U Concerned Citizen <br /> Government Agency /� Other Water Rights Holder in South Canon Ditch <br /> DESCRIPTION OF COMMENT OR OBJECTION <br /> as specific as possioi( <br /> Comment/Objection Narrative <br /> As a watershed scientist, Canon City native and current resident,and community member, I strongly oppose <br /> the proposed gold mine by Zephyr Minerals in the Dawson-Green Mountain area. <br /> I want to stress that my family has been in Canon City for generations I am not opposed to mining,my father <br /> has worked in coal mines for more than 40 years. However,as a watershed scientist(research scientist for the <br /> Colorado Water Center and co-owner of Corriente Environmental Solutions, LLC.)I am very concerned with this <br /> proposed project. <br /> I have worked throughout the state of Colorado on many water quality projects and studies, including point and <br /> non-point source pollution sources. I have worked closely with the Water Quality Control Division on several of <br /> these programs and have first-hand experience with legacy mining and other land uses that impact water <br /> quality. I am greatly concerned,for several reasons,about the proposed Dawson gold mine proposed by <br /> Zephyr Minerals. My concerns center on the following: <br /> 1)Proximity to drinking water sources and irrigation water <br /> 2)Environmental degradation <br /> 3)Wildfire hazards <br /> 4)Inadequate bonding requirements <br /> 5)Misinformation propagated by the mine applicants <br /> Most importantly,this proposed mine is within a catchment that drains water to a point directly above the City of <br /> Canon City's water intake. Contamination from immediate sources of mining and processing chemicals are <br /> acutely concerning, but the chronic impacts of inadequate"dry stack"treatments. I am concerned the dry stack <br /> tailings piles will: <br /> 1)Leak through defective liner areas <br /> 2)Contribute to groundwater contamination <br /> 3)Not be adequately protected from high-intensity rainstorm events and subsequent erosion <br /> Based on the topography,bedrock geology,and dominant precipitation events in this area, I am concerned the <br /> tailings piles will not be adequately protected.("these gulches are typically dry and only flow during large <br /> precipitation events."Page 34 of mine permit application.)Additionally,groundwater flow is generally north <br /> towards the Canon City Embayment(and the Arkansas River, Page 34;"Gape Creek appears to be a gaining <br /> stream draining the Precambrian material immediately adjacent to it."). Produced water was shown to contain <br /> concentrations of selenium that exceed state surface water quality standards.This is unsurprising as many <br /> bedrock formations contain high selenium concentrations and subsequent leachate is often correlated with <br /> parent materials. However,this is concerning as water quality selenium concentrations increase significantly <br />