2023-07-19_PERMIT FILE - P2023015

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Comment/Objection Narrative* July 18,2023 Skip Blades 548 Elk View Court Canon City, CO 81212 To:Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, I am commenting on permit P2023015 to encourage DRMS to reject the application. My wife and I are property owners in South T-Bar and are building our second home there.We decided on South T-Bar because of its sheer beauty,diverse wildlife,and quiet seclusion.The uranium drilling proposed in permit P2023015 clearly threatens all of that for the approximate 100 owners within South T-Bar. South T-Bar is a gated residential community with a single road entrance called South Tallahassee Trail that provides access to all properties.The proposed drilling is within 100 yards of South Tallahassee Trail in an open meadow where the drilling equipment and pads will be located. It will create a visual scar for the next 5 years, interfere with the resident elk herd and other animals that frequently visit the meadow to drink from the Middle Fork of the Tallahassee Creek,and create noise and light disturbance for"24 hours a day".All that alone should be enough for everyone to question..."Why would the State of CO approve permit P20230157' There is another permit P2021019 that was approved in 2021 in a lesser residential area.Okapi has an open request to reduce that permit from 60 to 40 holes.The 20 holes on the P2023015 are vastly different from those on P2021019 and should not be viewed as similar. P2023015 is in a higher residential area and next to the Middle Fork of Tallahassee Creek and Fear Creek. The proposed drilling is within a few yards of the Middle Fork of Tallahassee Creek and Fear Creek.These tributaries converge into Tallahassee Creek that flows directly into the Arkansas River.There is a heightened level of risk for water contamination drilling so close to the water sources.The Arkansas River is a water source to downstream residences in Canon City, Pueblo,and the State of KS. I would think the State of Colorado should consider the risk to the Arkansas River Compact between Colorado and Kansas.There are significant financial penalties to the State of Colorado if we don't provide a certain level of quality water. Uranium drilling has taken place previously in this area with clearly reported results."Why does Okapi have to do it all over again?"Especially without providing the State of Colorado with a long-term plan that includes feasibility, method of extraction,storage,and transportation. I have heard experts say that the price of Uranium would need to increase to$150 for it to be financially feasible to mine the Uranium in the area.Again,why do it Okapi?Method of extraction,storage,and transportation have a whole set of other questions and concerns that need to be understood. Okapi should be required to provide a long-term plan to the State prior to this permit approval. The State of Colorado can't get caught up in the belief"it will never happen"because it has already happened. The Cotter Mill Superfund site in Fremont County is a multi-generational example of"it can happen".The State has the burden of taking that site over after the company walked away and the public is ultimately at risk for the costs. This permit should be rejected by the State of Colorado because it is in a residential area,will disrupt the beauty of South T-Bar, impacts the wildlife,and risks the safety of our water. Thank you for your consideration. Skip Blades Permit Number* Enter valid letter and then numbers,for example M1977999, M1999777UG or C1981201. P2023015 Permitting Action Type Select revision type or leave blank if comment pertains to a new permit application or NOI Permit Type Uranium Exploration Drilling