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Your Phone Number* <br /> Used only to follow up. <br /> 7192751687 <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 Concerned Citizen <br /> Government Agency Other <br /> DESCRIPTION OF COMMENT OR OBJECTION <br /> as specific as possioi( <br /> Comment/Objection Narrative <br /> We are writing to object to the permit application filed by Zephyr Gold USA Ltd. ("Zephyr")(M-2021-046)to <br /> develop the Dawson Gold Mine just outside Canon City, Colorado.We appreciate the opportunity to comment <br /> on this permit application. <br /> As a Canadian company,Zephyr has no ties to this community and no stake in any lasting environmental <br /> impacts of their proposed mining.After holding several public meetings to discuss their intent and approach,in <br /> late September 2018,Zephyr discontinued such meetings.One would think trying to establish rapport and a <br /> solid relationship with the community in which you hope to extract natural resources would be the most viable <br /> way to a non confrontational solution.When Zephyr chose privacy and secrecy over transparency, it left many <br /> community members-including us-wondering what their motives might be. <br /> In their application Zephyr states:"Grape Creek to the north of the mine area appears to be in connection with <br /> the Precambrian material[...]The mine will be completed in the Precambrian material[...and]is expected to <br /> intercept some ground water within that material[...f(pgs.34-35)With 3,600 pounds of potentially toxic <br /> chemicals per week mixing with 65,000,000 gallons of water per year 1,000 feet above Grape Creek as well as <br /> the Arkansas River, by their own admission this seems to be risky at best.Yet Zephyr seems to be working hard <br /> to avoid any Environmental Impact assessments(EIA). If they believe what they promote-that their mining <br /> operation will be"an environmentally benign project"(front page of 31 August,2021 issue of the Canon City <br /> Shopper),then what do they have to hide?Why avoid EIAs?The potential for irreparable damage to water <br /> systems is real,and generations to come may be paying the price of Zephyr's pollution. <br /> Chemicals that will be used in specified processing include: <br /> - Potassium Amyl Xanthate-2,250 Ibs onsite <br /> - Methyl IsoButyl Carbinol-900 Ibs <br /> - Generic anionic emulsion flocculent-450 Ibs <br /> Zephyr plans to store those 3,600 pounds of chemicals onsite and refresh the quantities as needed.There is no <br /> precedent for how those chemicals might interact with the ore taken from the mine and whether or not they will <br /> become toxic. Mix chemicals and ore of unknown reaction with 65,000,000 gallons of water annually and a <br /> potential disaster could occur. <br /> Recent drought conditions have already put a strain on the Temple Canyon Area environment where Zephyr is <br /> proposing its mine be located.Wildfires are a real and present danger.Adding 8,400 gallons of diesel fuel and <br /> 13,000 pounds of explosives per week to the mix of parched land is a recipe for disaster.This puts not only the <br /> environment,but local residents and especially fire fighters at greater, undue risk for fire emergencies.A fire on <br />