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Rug 31 2006 12:12 HP LRSERJET FRX p•2 August 31, 2006 Colorado State Division of Mineral & ATTN: Carl Mount 1313 Sherman St, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Permit -I6~ Confidental?: n10 RE: Permit # M1983102 Dear Mr. Mount: Doc. Name: x C Doc. Date (if no date Specialist: P~uu~. N This letter is from a majority of the extremely concerned residences of Great Divide Head Lettuce Subdivision who reside East of County Road 61 and are impacted by Permit #M1983102 presently listed under Thompson Properties. We are requesting an immediate inspection of the above property. We strongly believe and fear that the gravel operation has entered the water table. We also believe the site is unsafe and being run without concern for water issues or safety of the slope being mined. Our understanding is the slope should be at 5 to 1 except for the east side being 3 to 1. According to our understanding of the slope we believe the slope is approx 2 to 1 AT BEST. Due to a recent rezoning to expand the existing gravel mining operation requested by Thompson Properties for Residential Tracks 5 and 6 of Great Divide Head Lettuce Subdivision to Forestry and Open allowed by two Board of County Commissioners (after the County Planning Director and Planning Commission unanimously opposed the rezoning due to the residential character of the neighborhood which was well established prior to the Thompson's purchasing the property) our concerns were even more elevated. Our BIGCrEST and most disturbing concerns are the ponds at the current mining operation. Attached to this letter are pictures of the ponds. Emails will follow from our neighborhood spokespersons. The pictures clearly show that on one water feature they have built a barge and put a pump on it to pump water out. The others have pumps and trucks backed up to them indicating they are removing water that they do not own or have a state issued well permit for. The permit from the state indicates there should be no ground water. One pond has asphalt in the water and it appears they have tried to cover up the water or bury the water with asphalt. Furthermore, in Grand Couuty Board of Commissioner minutes from an August 15, 2006 public hearing of the rezoning and discussion of the existing gravel operation and proposed re-location/eapanaion, Sam Conger of Flat Workin stated emphatically that a picture of standing wafer on the present site was rain water drained off the floor of the pit to make it safe. Also, included are newspaper articles stating that the water at the current gravel pit is snow melt and run off. This is hard to believe considering it is now August. The adjacent neighbors have all hit water at 60 feet for wells and most pumps are set between 70 and 80 feet. This is also another indication that they have hit the water table and are affecting the neighboring wells. A concrete plant is also being operated at the mine and it is our understanding it has a 10,000 gallon water storage tank under the building for water. Where is this water coming from? -The mine site is NOT on county or town water.