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November 14, 1988 N1ck Melliadis, Stationary Sources Section, Division of Air Pollution Control, Colorado Department of Health, 4210 East i 1 th St., Denver, Colorado 80220 Dear Sir: I am writing in response to the Public Notice in the San Miguel Basin Forum, 10/20/88, requesting comments regarding the emisson permit application by Peabody Coal Company to mine west of the town of Nucia. We live two tenths of a mile north of the Peabody Coal Company's present mine northwest of Nucla. We protested, to Scott Miller of the Grand Junction office of Air Pollution and to the Division of Mined Land Reclamation, as early as last March the excessive dust produced by the operation during earth removal and haulage of both overburden and coal. This was to be rectified, as much as possible, by sprinkling and grading of haulage roads, at least, twice a day. This was followed at first, providing adequate relief; but then, compliance became more and more sporadic until as much as a week has passed with no visible sign of sprinkling. The dust from the perimeter county road as well as that from the piled residue create some of their problem. Blasting was to be done so as to create a minimum of shock to the surrounding area and, as we understood, a minimum of dust. This type of charge detonation has occcured on, roughly, one in five blasts, proving they do know how. We, respectfully, request strict regulation with supervision to prevent similar problems next to the city of Nucla and on into the future as they indicate they anticipate mining the countryside over a period of years. The health factor for the many miners and others in the area with emphysema and similar respiratory problems is as crucial as the need for Peabody to mine the coal. Those affected residents who own their homes and/or who are unable to move from the area are captives of their manmade environment. Sincerely, Jack H. Smith, Marjorie V. Smith, P.O. Box 707, Phone: 303-864-221 I Nucla, CO 81424