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~II ~I~II~~I~~~~~~I~ ~ sss OBJECTION TO APPLICATION BY WHITEWATER- BUILDING MATERIALS CORPORATION, PURSUANT TO THE "COLORADO MINED LAND RECLAMATION ACT" To: Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board 1313 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80203 From: Earl Dalton and Carol Dalton Dear Board Members: We are in receipt of a letter from Mr. Edward M. Gardner of Whitewater-Building Materials Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Whitewater) notifying us that Whitewater is making application to your board under the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act to conduct a surface mining operation for sand and gravel on property located adjacent to ours. The property we own is our family residence and pursuant to Whitewater's plan will be located adjacent to their surface mining operations. Our residence consists of a home and out buildings on approximately five acres of land. As it is our intent to reside at this location for quite some time, we wanted to make our views and opinions on the application made known to you. After receiving the notification in the mail, we reviewed the plan submitted to your board at the offices of the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder in Grand Junction, Colorado. In reviewing the plan, there were three major defects that we felt should be brought to the board's attention. The following is a list of those defects we feel the board should consider: I. WATER QUALITY OF RECREATIONAL LAKE As a longtime resident of Whitewater, Colorado, we are quite aware of the problems associated with water quality in a gravel pit after mining operations have ceased. It has been our experience that the water quality maintains itself in somewhat of a fresh state for approximately two years and then becomes stagnate. Our concern is how the applicant intends to keep fresh water flowing through the lake. It is our assumption that the water will be taken from the Gunnison River although this is not clear from their application. If water is to be taken to the lake to the north of the railroad tracks, we feel it is important for the board to consider how the applicant desires to transport the water. Clean, fresh and nonstagnate water is important not only as a public health consideration but to the quality of the planned recreation facility. Without adequate protection of the water quality, the entire reclamation project could fail. II. EXCAVATION OF ADJACENT PROPERTY SVe have discussed the proposed excavation of Whitewater's property with Mr. Edward M. Gardner who is the vice president of the applicant corporation. Mr. Gardner has informed us that excavation will begin approximately 200 to 250 feet from our property line. From the beginning point of the excavation, the surface will then slope downward toward the lake away from our property.