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RECEIVEfD JAN 0 91006 fCt ~-2~bS~~7r ~fD y„t r Paul A. Priest / Verla H. Priest 19316 Ward Creek Road Cedaredge, CO 81413 January 2, 2006 Mr. Steve Shuey Td Division of Minerals and Geology 101 S. 3rd Street, Room 301 Grand Junction, CO 81501 RE: Objection to the Benson Brothers Red Shale Quarry in Coalby Canyon Gentlemen: ASS .. ;.;. JAM Q 5 2006' a•xxaa, ~+.j„`-`~pNyA'kii ~'iF.iS! ~.}R'r¢6:St t'~">ei^r;.1: 5?i ~i4n+c~;'Y.Rhe ~. ~kAli~¢' _ _ _ __ _ - _ Upon retirement, we,moved.to a house in Cgalby Canyon approximately one half mile north of the proposed Benson Brothers red shale quarry. We selected this location in a rural residential/agricultural area in large part to enjoy the remaining native habitat and to escape the noise and pollution of a large metropolitan area. Imagine our surprise when a regional aggregate purveyor announced plans to quarry red shale from the upper slopes of a nearby sandstone bluff overlooking a small vineyard and large meadows dedicated to grazing. We feel betrayed. We fully expect that noise from crushing machinery at the Benson Brothers proposed operation will likely be offensive, especially in the summer when the house is open or we are outside. Likewise, the dust from the proposed operation is likely to be objectionable, especially in the summer when afternoon breezes move upslope from the site past our home. We had declared ourselves fortunate to find a rural residence on slightly-traveled, paved road! We're not sure'how td characterize the expected impact on the neighborhood from the large trucks which Benson proposes to move over our single paved road. The hazard they represent is highly depehdent on the quality of their drivers, but one can't help but feel significantly increased risk to the residents sharing the road is inevitable. Finally, we fully anticipate that, by having a gravel quarry for a neighbor, the value of our home will be substantially reduced and at a time when we expected to be husbanding our financial resources for our retirement With respect to mitigation obviously anything which would serve to reduce noise, dust and traffic impact would be highly desirable. We don't believe any mitigation for the negative financial impact is feasible short of not quarrying at all. As residents of Coalby Canyon and aggrieved parties, we object to the issuance of a reclamation permit. We wish to be made a patty to the proceeding, to be on the mailing list, and request a pre-hearing conference be held in Cedaredge. Please have the pre-hearing conference include a tour of the site to which all parties are included. Please schedule a hearing on the application, for all the reasons stated in this protest, and set the hearing in Delta or Grand Junction, a location convenient to the proposed site. ou for ydu~'co eration,~ ` ' '