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mitigation suaugies to reduce the impact of muting on the bird and its habitat. In fact, is <br />September 2005, the State of Colorado submitted the Wildlife Conservation Plan to the USFWS. <br />let tlrc urikirwl pcurrit ctnrvasiun ptuccss, lire Culutadv Divisiuu of VVildlifc (Ihc "DOW") <br />staled "adegnak nutigatiwi will only be accomplished ihroueh the intpluuentation of one or <br />mots offsik mitigation stmkgics" Urrfortuaakly, King Mouataia's final application did not <br />include oay offcite atrategiec. Aa such, Kiag Mountain's mitigation atrategiea fall woefully short <br />ofineetiag those suggested by DOW. <br />h (:nnservahnn and property Values <br />The proposed gravel pit expansion site is located aeaz property on which the Yampa <br />Va1le~' Land Taut holds a conservation easement. Five Pine Mesa and snrroundin)t area is a <br />wiyuc mew, with atirrirual 4allic, few raitkartial prupnlics, pris4ne alpine lwat acrd welhnrds, <br />whue significant iuvesuuent has been made to protect and preserve the views, peace wad quiet, <br />water quality, wildlife habitat xnd wildlife. As a rcault, the cauawtioa valuca within the area <br />aro vary high. The proposed gravel pit expansion, together with cigrtificaady inaeaaed traffic <br />and torte:poading duet, and other particulates, aoice and the likely decrease is w>Ydlif'e usage in <br />the area, will inetitxbly compromise the conservxtioa value of the various exsemeats held by the <br />rnncervahnn and entnrnnmmpl nrppmsavnns Mtlhnns of dollars nf' titan firnda are rrurently <br />proposed to be spent iaunediately adjacent to the pit to preserve Grouse habitat. <br />c. Transpartaaon and Safety Concerns <br />King Mouutaui's current opuaion has two access points on Covuty Road 3 (CR 3). The <br />short scctioa of that road (utihtxd by the gravel pit) is vcty stccp with grndcs up to 1946, a <br />recognizable hazard. Dua to the topography of tha uea, those grades cannot be adjusted without <br />a road relocation The steep grade on CR 3 at its intersection with County Road 5 (CR 5) u a <br />serious safety problem dve to truck traffie assoaated with the operation '!here are very limited <br />stght dtatanres to see turtles nr tows versa hefnre an tntnrsex.hnn, arntrnd corners, poor to nor-lane <br />bridges etc.. It is very' dangerous. <br />The project proposed by King bfountain will irwolve a sipni]icant amoum of haul traffic <br />mrd a sigrtiGcaul inuease is frock LLallic gtarnally. At a nmuvruur, it appems dot au upmrsivn <br />of Kiag blountain's gravel nine will add a volume of approximately 160 vehicles per day during <br />the peak mining moudu. Combiacd with the traffic voltunc ahcady traveling CA 3 and CR 5, <br />approximately 350 trucko (plus 30 Cara) will be using those roads daily. Ia their current condition, <br />the exictiag roads simply cannot support that increased level of traffic. <br />h'iMhermnre, the tntrtcrchnn of (:K '1 oral ('N 5 pnsex a amntts sat~ty r.nnrem N'rth <br />respect to all three approaches to the intersection. sight distance is very limited. The worth leg of <br />the inursection on CR 3 has a suep. 1846, grade on iu approach. Trucks crawl down this grade <br />az very low spceds. Despiu those low speeds, it is questionable whether dross trucks are able to <br />sWp fur ora:oautrg uaffic. WiIL Ilrc forecasted increased volume of truck activity flat will resell <br />if the Doard approees Kwg 1blourttain's Panit Catvasiou Application, the safety toucans at <br />this inkrscction (and along the roads grnaally) arc substantially amplified. With n lags volume <br />