PERMFILE71973

• Permit No: M2001001
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/2/2001
• Doc Name: LETTER OF OBJECTION & CONCERN OF JACK AKIN AND CAROL STEPE IN THE MATTER OF THE LINE CAMP GRAVEL PIT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Letter of Objection d. ConceTfi "Line Camp Gravel Pit" (Application #: M-2001)
Thursday, March 01, 2001 - Pale: 8
Who will come to this area to visit a collage of 40 ton diesel trucks .. .
front loaders with 80 decibel backup warning devices, and clouds of
particulates of unknown corrosive danger disturbing the serene eco-
system which now exists to attract people to this area of the State?
The proposed gravel pit will adversely affect existing wildlife; In
addition to being intrusive on the Department of Natural Resources' eco-
tourism plans for the San Juan Skyway, it is important to note how the
linecamp gravel pit will adversely affect the long range objectives of the
Department.
As Mr. Akin can testify, migratory waterfowl are not indigenous to the
Dolores River Valley.
Mr. Jim Olterman, Senior Biologist of the DNR's Department of Wildlife
introduced the first species of migratory waterfowl [Canadian Geese] into
the Dolores River Valley in 1973. Since that time, the waterfowl continue
to return to this region to nest, reproduce and rest on their migratory
patterns across North and Central America.
As Mr. Olterman can testify, there is no doubt that the proposed gravel
pit's noise, dust and interruption of the serene environment in the
Dolores River Valley would discourage these species from their natural
presence along the Skyway. At the point of this proposed gravel pit, the
gravel pit extends across the entire width of the Dolores River Valley
(except for Colorado Hwy. 145 and the Dolores River].
The site of the gravel pit is now open meadow. The current use is for
spring and summer pasture for horses. This is consistent with the
surrounding agricultural land.
However, it is important to note that the pasture is also under a variety
of wild, natural species of plants and grass. In the winter, it is common
for residents to see deer and elk using the area as a means of transit
from the Dolores river to the mesas on the other side of Highway 145.
This is one of the few safe areas in which herbivores can graze during
winter months, and, at the same time, be in the open where they can be
relatively safe from predators.
The development of a gravel pit on this site will exclude deer, elk and
other migratory or transitory species from the open space which has
Four States Aggregates, LLC 01 MAR 2001
Letter of Objection & Concern: Line Camp Pit FSA-LCP-D1-001