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~~ <br />- 2 - <br />ion. As a matter of public safety and welfare, this situation needs <br />to be investigated and corrected before any expansion is considered. <br />3) Our principal concern is the reclamation of the mined .sreas. We do <br />not think long range permits for expansion should be granted because <br />there is no convincing evidence that previous reclamation efforts <br />have been successful in restoring the land to its appr,~ximate original <br />state. The flat terraces of the "reclaimed" 12 acres pit the top of <br />the Queen's Canyon quarry are incongruous with the sure-ounding land- <br />scape, and yellow clover is not an adequate ground cov~ar. we feel <br />that Castle should be required to recontour the land to a more natural <br />form which would allow pockets of woody vegetation to i:ake root and <br />which would conform with the adjacent topography of than area. (See <br />attachments). <br />4) Castle Concrete's expansion proposal states that the Snyder (Black <br />Canyon) quarry will ultimately be reclaimed as a park <ind lake. There <br />is no convincing evidence, in our opinion, that reclam~~tion on this <br />arid hillside will be any more successful that that at Queen's Canyon <br />Quarry. In the summer of 1976 the Park Board an3 City Council tabled <br />indefinitely a proposal by Castle to donate Queen's Carryon Quarry as <br />a park, because there was no tangible assurance that it: would be <br />conveyed in an acceptable reclaimed state compatible with park use. <br />Further, the city did not want to assume the financial burden of <br />reclamation or liability which we felt was Castle's re~.ponsibility. <br />Similarly, the Castle plan for the ultimate disposition. of the <br />Snyder quarry in the year 2032 is highly unrealistic. <br />In summary, we urge you to deny long-range permits for expansion at all <br />three Castle Concrete quarries, and to review frequently by direct <br />observation, Castle's adherence to past legal stipulations and Colorado <br />reclamation statutes. In addition, in order to assure complete and balanced <br />public input on this vital issue, we request that you schedule a public <br />hearing in Colorado Springs. <br />Sincerely yours, , <br />J <br />~~ G~~ <br />Jud~th R. Finley <br />Chairman <br />Park & Recreation Advisory Board <br />JF:ht <br />cc: Governor Richard C. Lamm <br />Mr. Harris Sherman <br />