2003-05-13_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M2001054

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~~~', Concerned Neighbors of the Bridalveil Gravel Pit ~~ c/o Andy & Rhonda Palmer ~" / PO Box 1315 t..p lv~,j~ L cj/~~~- Ouray, CO 81427 1 C~, ~o ~s~ May 7, 2003 ~~~ ~ Ivlr. Bob Oswald ~~ ~. ~~'~~ Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology ~u 701 Camino Del Rio, Room 125 ~ . ~ - ~~ i-+'4~ ~ ~ 203 Durango, CO 81301 ~s'~oof q ~ /~ :~ ~ ~~ s~ ~°u~~o RE: Bridalveil Pit, File No. M-2001-054, Ouray, CO ~"'d A ~ ~ ~~ ~~~ ~rr~ ~, ~~sis,~., Dear Mr. Oswald, I am writing you this letter on behalf of the concerned neighbors of the Bridalveil Pit, Chazles and DeAna Scott, Joe and Christine Kersen, Steve and Meg Keffeler, Mike and Darcy Sella, Tom and Colleen Hollenbeck, and us, Andy and Rhonda Palmer. We have been watching the destruction of the property adjoining our property known as the Bridalveil Pit. It looks as though the land there was raped. It is so sad to see what has happened there the past few months. This is an emotional issue regarding our homes, our property and our quality of life here, as we knew it. It was our understanding before the permit was granted that Mr. Lynn Olin was going to mine some of the gravel, build storage units and a couple of homes. He told us he was going to build a large berm between our properties and his; that most of the trees between our properties would not be removed; that he would reroute and maintain Bridalveil so it was no threat to our properties; and finally, that the impact of his project on us and our property would be minimal. Had it been known in the beginning what his real plans were, we would have fought the permit tooth and nail. After reviewing the permit and associated paperwork, the requirements of the'Pit Development' section of the Mine Plan has not been complied with. Should we get a hard rain, our properties are potentially in danger of being flooded, as is the highway to the west and south of the pit. We befieve his noncompliance should be brought to your attention in protection of our properties. Isri t erosion control a concern? Wori t the lack of trees and foliage leave the area a certain path for floodwaters? He is also in noncompliance with the section stating'A buffer zone at lenst 20 feet wide unll be left on Elie north sides of tl~e property in order to leave trees intact and screen the operation from the surrounding landowners and visitors to Ourn~.' If you were to walk our property lines right now, you would find at least 3 trees that he has cut down and are lying on our property lines. The past 2 days Mr. Olin has been burning. When he left the property last evening, the fire was still going. During the night the winds picked up. 1 was very concerned that the winds would fan the fire and it would blowup. This morning the smoke was still thick. Luckily the unattended fire didn't flare up or our homes would have been in grave danger.