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 27 FROM
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US EPA - R8 WTR MGT DIU TO

98328106 P.08
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Melanie Palhnan
Environmental Protection Agcnry
999 18th Street, Suite S00
Denver, CO 80203
18 February 1994
Dear Ms. Pullman:
An asphalt plant and aggregate mining operation is proposed by United Companies of Grand
Junction fora 37-acre site directly across from our farm, nine miles south of Montrose on U.S. Hwy.
550. This is an extremely disturbing proposal, even after hearing the hary details of the operation
from United Companies representatives at apublic meeting on 15 Feb.
Although the company stressed reclamation (something they will do 30 or more years from now),
they did not honestly answer the concerns of the numerous people whose lives and livc1171oods wi71 be
adversely impacted by minitlg, rock-crushing, asphalt and cement production. Reclamation is an issue
for the future. Our present needs are most important.
I absolutely protest this site for such an operation for the following reasons:
1) Mining, rocktrushing, asphalt and cement production are completely inrnmpatible with
the farm and ranch agriailture of the area. The 37-acre parcel is good farm/pasture ground with rich
topsoil two and three feet deep. United Companies proposes to mine most of the 37 acres, leaving a
pit 25-30 feet deep, with walls at 45-degrees. They claim they will put two feet of topsot7 over this and
seed it for grass. That kind of a hole can never be reclaimed for farm/pasture 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 development, especially from industrial
development. When the land is destroyed, there wtv be no place to grow the grains, vegetables,
fruits, livestock necessary for human sunrival.
2) Aa asphalymining operation will pollute the neighborhood with particulates, dust, oil,
smoke and noise, endangering human health, wildlife habitat and ourantique/heritage orchard and
farm.
There are several elderly people in this neighborhood as well as a child with TB who will be
severely affected by the particulates and dust produced by this proposed operation. When I left the
Denver azea the pollution was causing me health problems -- I don't want to see them return because
of this plant.
We bought this farm in 1978. We have 11 different types of heritage apple trees, some over
100 years old. We grow dozens of different antique vegetables and fruits. We farm without chemicals
and over the years have created a delicate natural balance --nesting birds have returned here (there