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Letter of Objection & Cone"Line Camp Gravel Pit" (Application N: M-2001) Thursday, March 01, 2001 -Page: 7 This area is now a haven for wildlife of many species, as well as being an ongoing agricultural site which the Akins use for farming and raising sheep and cattle. The line camp gravel pit will destroy these natural resources on private land if allowed to operate in just one high-water year. The proposed gravel pit will adversely affect the eco-tourism of the State of Colorado's "San Juan Skyway:" As one of its natural resources, the State of Colorado has designated Highway 145 as a scenic corridor for bolstering eco-tourism in Southwest Colorado. The San Juan Skyway winds gracefully through the Dolores River Valley. The linecamp gravel pit and its operations will be less than 150 feet from the roadway which comprises the San Juan Skyway. We believe the Department of Natural Resources, as guardians of the public trust, will recognize that tourists driving through the area will be less attracted to a scenic highway through the Dolores River Valley that is blighted by the operations oC the linecamp gravel pit. We invite the Department of Natural Resources to place themselves in the position of tourists driving along Highway 145. The San Juan Skyway, in any season, is a scenic wonder for everyone traveling its length. The road closely parallels the beautiful Dolores River. Tourists can view American Bald Eagles circling above the McPhee Reservoir. The trees lining the Skyway often have Golden Eagles, Falcons and a variety of other migratory species which are dependant on the serene character of the Dolores River Valley (uninterrupted by intrusive commercial development) for nesting, migration and temporary repose. In addition, the gently rolling meadows of the farms in the valley provide ample opportunities for tourists to view a variety of species of herbivores including elk and deer. The Skyway also displays a variety of rare species including the lynx, bobcat, mountain lion and other wild species which thrill and delight the residents of the valley and its many out-of- area visitors. In the midst of this natural splendor, the linecamp gravel pit, only 150 feet from the Skyway, would impart a daily intrusion on the Skyway of heavy equipment, dust (of unknown particulates) polluting the air, industrial noise which is known to repel natural wildlife and which comprises a blight on the natural beauty of the Skyway. Four States Aggregates, LLC 01 MAR 2001 Letter of Objection & Concern: Line Camp Pit FSA-LCP-D1-001