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Frances P. Lazeaz 20508 Brimstone Rd Cedaredge, CO 81413 November 27, 2005 COMMENTS ON BENSON BROTHERS RED SHALE PIT RECLAMATION APPLICATION As a homeowner living approximately 1/2 mile from the boundary of the Benson proposed red shale pit in Coalby Canyon, I wish to state my strenous objections to this operation. I wish to be made a party to the proceeding, I wish to be on the mailing list, and would like for apre-hearing conference to be held in Cedaredge. Please have the prehearing conference include a tour of the site to which all parties are included. Please schedule a hearing on the application, for all of the reasons stated in this protest, and set the hearing in Delta or Grand Junction, a location convenient to the proposed project site. There are a number of misleading statements in the application, and important points are left out all together. I will point these out in the document below where the applicant's statements are in quotes, and my comments follow. GEOLOGIC HAZARDS: Exhibit D- Mining plan Application contains an analysis of the southern slope by Ute Engineering Co. It only addresses the slope above the cliffs. The stability of the Rollins Cliffs which border the southern end of the property has not been addressed. The cliffs contain many fractures and evidence of recent large rockfalls abounds. Vibrations from the operation may loosen more large pieces of sandstone. There are three residences immediately below these cliffs. An analysis should be done by a company which has experience in cliff stability prior to consideration of this permit. Operation of the crusher and large equipment on the north side of the ridge may transmit vibrations through the ground sufficient to dislodge rocks, even when operations aze not occuring near the top of the ridge. (34-32.5-116(4)(1) & 34- 32.5-I15(4)(a)) Mitigation: Although I feel risk to adjoining property from the above mentioned geologic hazards should be sufficient to deny the permit, if the permit is accepted I feel the following restrictions should be placed on the operation: I .Preferably no rock crushing should be allowed on the premises. Low frequency vibrations transmitted through the ground pose unacceptable risk of cliff failure with