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d~<2~j~ <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Re: Coaldale Gypsum Quarry, Permit M-1977-247 <br />Dear DRM & S agency officials, <br />-~pR 2 4 2007 <br />pivision of Raclamation, <br />Mining and Safety <br />~ Apri122, 2007 <br />I am a bordering landowner to the Coaldale Gypsum Quarry that is now proposed for re- <br />operation by Holcim (US) Ina I have several concerns that I would like yow agency to <br />closely review in their permit application process. Be aware that I am very familiaz with <br />mine permitting and environrental compliance as I was a mining and environmental <br />permitting manager for both Bwlington Northern's Meridian Minerals Company and <br />Kaiser Coal/Kaiser Steel. I understand both the good and bad of the mining industry. <br />Philosophically, I am not against mining, but I now find that my wife and 1 pwchased a <br />15-acre horse property in this quiet community in 2003 bordering a "reclaimed" gypsum <br />quarry, only to find out nowthat a re-operation is being proposed for the next 30+ years <br />by Holcim, Inc. Below are the questions where I would Like see a thorough analysis <br />provided by yow agency during the review of this permit application. <br />1. What will be the projected impact to air quality from dust particulates from the <br />operation? <br />- 2. What will be the projected impact to the groundwater regime from the blasting <br />activity and the effects on the numerous private wells below the mine's elevation? <br />What will Holcim's water well usage do to impact the local groundwater regime? <br />How can any anatysis be done without the collection of groundwater monitoring <br />well data? <br />3. What will be the impacts on existing structwes from blasting? My wife's parents <br />home also borders the mine property and their ceiling and block foundation was <br />cracked during the blasting that occurred when the property was being reclaimed <br />by the previous mine property owner. That operator did not assume any liability <br />for that damage. Will Holcim have the same attitude? <br />4. What is the status of old refuse on the mine property that has accumulated over <br />the past 100 yeazs of operation? ALL historically industrial properties in this <br />country have buried fluids that over the past several yeazs have now been <br />determined to be potentially hazardous to humans and animals. I was in chazge of <br />a huge PCB inventory and clean-up of six historical mine and industrial properties <br />in fow states when I was with Kaiser CoaUKaiser Steel. Generally, companies <br />DID NOT transport any oils, solvents, acid batteries, etc. off-site for decades. <br />There was no need to until specific environmental legislation came into being in <br />roughly the past 20 years. The Coaldale Quarry has operated for nearly 100 years <br />and only a fool would believe that this type of refuse is not buried somewhere on <br />that property. It should be noted that past employees of the quarry have stated to <br />local residents that they ARE aware of such refuse being buried at the quarry. <br />5. There is a resident herd of up to 75 mule deer that migrate daily from the mine <br />property where they bed during the day, migrate through swrounding properties <br />