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l ~J <br /> <br />r <br />July 21, 1997 <br /> <br />Jim Stevens <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />1313 Sherman Street Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 - <br />~ III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <br />RECEIVED <br />JUL 2 41997 <br />BIYlhldrf of Mino~Qlo q 9Pjq~POv <br />This letter is a response to the proposed gravel operation in Parkdale, CO. <br />directly across from the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area facility. <br />Arkansas River Outfitters Association is opposed to a `life of the mine' <br />conditional use permit by Agile Stone Systems in this area. Our <br />membership is in agreement that the visual degradation of the aesthetic <br />beauty of this area will adversely affect tourism in the Royal Gorge region.. <br />At this time over 125,000 people use the AHRA site for river access, fishing, <br />picnics and sightseeing annually. This does not include several thousand <br />visitors to the Royal Gorge or Canon City area who come for our <br />outstanding scenery, whitewater and a chance to view wildlife. <br />We believe mining activities such as blasting; crushing, screening and <br />loading will create a severe noise problem affecting the experience of area <br />visitors. Other major concerns include the impact on Bighorn sheep and the <br />possible sedimentation in Tallahassee Creek, atrout-spawning stream. <br />There are several gravel businesses located in Fremont County and we <br />question the need for additional operations to supply the same product. As <br />major employers in the tourism industry, the number one industry of our <br />state, we hope you will carefully consider our concerns. Impacting the <br />hundreds of tourism related jobs for a small number of mining jobs do not <br />seem to benefit our area at this time. We are not against mining in general, <br />just this mine in a very critical location to the tourism industry. <br />Sincerely, <br />~~ ~~~~ <br />Bob Hamel, <br />Vice-Chairman <br />Arkansas River Outfitters Assoc. <br />