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Responses to the concerns of adjacent landowners <br />• Concerns raised during public comment for this operation are generally as follows: <br />1. "...increase(d) vehicular traffic on road where traffic is already dangerously negotiated." <br />A small section, less than one half mile in length will see an increase in truck traffic. <br />However, the traffic increase on this road will be by trucks either in the process of <br />acceleration or deceleration due to the short distance existing between the entrance to the <br />gravel pit and Highway 145, at which point all traffic must stop. The Operator believes <br />truck traffic will actually slow the general speed of the traffic and therefore should not <br />adversely impact safety. <br />Furthermore, since the intended market for the gravel produced by this pit is the Telluride <br />area, and since the Telluride area has no gravel pits, all gravel is already traveling on <br />Highway 145. Gravel production and therefore the gravel haul associated with it will <br />therefore naturally replace existing traffic and not increase traffic as a whole. <br />The operator has no problem with a County or Colorado Department of Transportation <br />directed reduction of the speed limit on either the Redvale Road or Highway 145. <br />2. "...the disruption of wildlife habitat and the added stress to the residing eagle population;" <br />• The Colorado Division of Wildlife has determined that adequate precautions against <br />adverse effects to the local wildlife exist and are incorporated into the permit. Buffer <br />zones, containing possible roosting sites and burrowing locations will be maintained along <br />the Redvale Road and the Gurley Ditch. The reclaimed grasslands left behind will offer <br />enhanced grazing opportunities for deer when compared to the current cover of noxious <br />weeds, sage and cedar. <br />3. "The noise, dust and pollution from this project would decrease property values <br />dramatically." <br />While the permit application does not require the applicant to mitisate the property values <br />of adjacent property owners, it does require the operator to maintain certain distances from <br />the property and structures of the adjacent owners. These distances aze maintained in this <br />permit application. Additionally, all noise and dust generated by this operation are <br />specifically restricted by [he Ivlontrose County Special Use Permit, under its special code <br />for gravel operations. This specific code address noise limitations to which the operator <br />must commit. <br />Dust generated by the operation is limited by Air Permits issued by the Colorado <br />Department of Public Health and Environment. These air permits strictly regulate the <br />fugitive dust the operator is allowed to emit, dictates dust suppression activities and <br />provides remedies to the public should the operator fail [o control the off-site transport of <br />dust emissions. <br />C-5 <br />