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4-30-03; 12: 43PM; ~ tt 2/ 4 RECEIVED Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman Room 215 Denver, Co. 80203 APR 3 ~ 2003 April 15, 2003. Division of Minerals & GeOfogy I am writing this letter of objection on behalf of our neighborhood association. (see attached membership list) The project in question is the Nissen Farm Resource, proposed by the Hall-Irwin Corporation. Permit # M2003001 It is located in Weld County, northwest of Kersey Co. We feel that all of our members axe adversely impacted by this project and therefore will be exposed to economic, aesthetic and conservational loss. Water Issues Ambient groundwater quality will be degraded by fuels and chemicals that leak from storage, vehicles and machinery on the site. There aze 19 private wells in the immediate neighborhood that would be affected. Due to the proposed slurry trench that will surround the mining site, the natural flow of the aquifer is going to be disrupted. If the water table rises up-gradient and a large amount ofrain falls, basements and septic leach fields will flood and waste will enter the sub-surface groundwater. There is also potential for animal waste to contaminate the ground water in this scenario. Those areas down gradient would suffer the reverse, with lower water tables. Incidentally, the South Platte River lies adjacent and down gradient from the proposed mining azea. If the opposite were true, then those wells up-gradient would go" dry." We feel that the slurry trench technology that is proposed for this project is unpredictable at best. We wish to guazd against future negative impacts regarding the quality, amount and flow of surface and sub-surface water. Wildlife Issues The proposed permit area is currently comprised of traditional irrigated farm ground with an established crop base..It has been in this configuration for the last 50 yeazs. Since most of us have lived in the neighborhood for many years, we feel we are qualified to make accurate observations about wildlife and their habitat in the permit zone and adjacent areas. The proposed site is a traditional feeding and resting azea for migratory birds and waterfowl; geese, ducks, sandhill cranes, doves, and song birds frequent the fields during migration. Additionally, wild turkey, deer, rabbit, fox, coyote, and skunk are common on this ground as well in the adjacent riparian habitat along the river. The proposed mining and associated activities will have an adverse impact on all of these species. They will be displaced and their habitat disrupted for the" life of the mine," which could be for the next 20-30 years. This project will not provide for the protection, rehabilitation or improvement of wildlife habitat for a very long time. Another area of concern for wildlife habitat lies in the adjacent riparian zone along the river. Although this azea is outside the proposed pemat zone, it should not be overlooked,