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<br />discourage the expansion of mining 1n Franktown, and plan proponents had <br />stated that reclamation assurances were somewhat diminished as a resuit <br />of Senate Bill 162. Mr. Banta's testimony at this local hearing could suggest <br />accession to the wishes of the Senator-Applicant in this case. <br />It troubles us that State Wildlife has already issued conflicting referral <br />reports to the MLRD: <br />In 1988, Wildlife directed its referral comments to a Winkler/Hallett <br />quarry which would have been one hundred twenty acres. Asked what <br />critical habitats and vegetative communities would be impacted, Wildlife <br />then stated that "slow flowingstagnant wetland, sedges, bushes, <br />snowberry, mountain mahogany/ oakbrush on hillsides" would be affected. <br />But in March, 1989, Wildlife--this time responding to the 16 hundred acre <br />quarry now being considered by you--found the critical habitats and <br />vegetative communities impacted to be "predominantly grassland with some <br />limited occurrence of oakbrush, mountain mahogany, and snowberry." <br />Whereas the earlier, far smaller quarry--that quarry encompassed within <br />the sixteen hundred acre quarry--had wetlands problems, the current quarry <br />would not. <br />We understand that operations budgets and appropriations for priority <br />protects in the Natural Resources Department are necessarily influenced by <br />the Senate Natural Resources Committee--and therefore by the members of <br />that Senate Committee. <br />We would encourage the MLRD to avoid conflict of interest questions by <br />denying the Winkler Light Quarry application. It is critical that reierrals on <br />MLRD applications from sub-departments such as Wildlife and State Parks <br />be obJective and protective of the public Interest. And it is critical that the <br />MLRD itself remain immune to improper political persuasion. <br />THEREFORE, FOR THE REASONS ABOVE AND FOR OTHERS TO BE PRESENTED AT <br />HEARING, WE URGE THAT YOU DENY THE APPLICATION FOR THE WINKLER LIGHT <br />AGGREGATE QUARRY. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Associated Homeowners-Taxpayers of Founders of Castle Rock by <br />Smith and William Wlndler <br />