PERMFILE63256

• Permit No: M1994005
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 2/18/1994
• To: EPA
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

02/28/1994 13 26 FROM US EPR - RB WTR MGT DIU TO 98328106 P.06
~ Pet III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII . •
999
21661 Hwy. 550
Montrose, CO 61401
[phone]
Melanie Pallman
FSsvironmental Protection Agency
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80203
February 18, 1994
Dear Mrs. Pallman:
I am very disturbed by the proposal of United Companies to build
an asphalt plant and rock-crushing operation on a 37-acre site
directly across from our farm, nine miles south of Montrose on
U.S. Hwy. 550. i listened to their proposal at a meeting on
February 15, and was convinced I do not want them here.
Although they talked about reclamation in 10 or more years from
now, they did not put my mind at ease. The most important issue
is the present, the operation itself, not the future reclamation
of the site.
My wife and I purchased our farm 16 years ago for a quiet,
healthy place to live and use as a retreat center. We grow
organic vegetables and fruits for ourselves and the poor in the
area. I have been retired for many years now, and have enjoyed
this peace and serenity.
I can't tell you enough that I don't want to see United Companies
destroying all that we've worked to accomplish. We're too old to
start over.
Mining, rock-crushing, asphalt and cement production belong in an
industrial area,_,not_here. The 37-acre parcel is good farm ground
with rich topsoil. IInited Companiesproposes to mine~mo6t of the
37 acres, leaving a pit 25-30 feet deep, with walls at 45-
degrees. They claim they will put two feet oP topsoil over this
and seed it for grass. That kind of a hole can never be reclaimed
for farm ground.
In a time when population growth is threatening the world food
supply, it is extremely important that we protect farm and ranch
lands from this sort of development.
This operation will pollute our neighborhood and endanger our
health, wildlife habitat and our farm. The noise of the
machinery and increased heavy truck traffic will do the same-
United Companies says it will mine 1.2 million tons of rock,
which will require approximately 100,000 truckloads. That's