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April 15, 2002 ~E~Ef~~~ v v~ Division of Minerals and Geology APR ^ ~ ' Office of Mined Land Reclamation Derision of Minerai~ 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 a ;~ ~:. Denver, CO 80203 RE: GCC Rio Grande, Inc. Mining Permit Application ~~('~1~~~ APR 2 3 2Q~ Dear Members of the Office of Mined Land Reclamation, Division of Minerals and CeotagF I am writing to request that the mining permit for the proposed GCC Rio Grande, Inc. cement plan be denied. I am also requesting that if any hearings concerning this application will be held that they will be held in Pueblo, Colorado, with ample notification to the citizens of Pueblo be placed in the Pueblo Chieftain Newspaper. As you are will awaze, this cement plant will add tremendously to the pollution of air, water and environment of Pueblo, County. My family lives 55 acres within two miles of the proposed plant, in the "high danger zone" while I reside in Pueblo City in the danger zone. I fear for our health, My father has allergies and asthma, which will be greatly effected by the dust and pollution if the plant is built. Additionally, My brother, Jay, nearly died twice wish pneumonia, his asthma is severe and he is currently faking three medications to keep his asthma in check, the cement plant will have very adverse effects on his health. He also suffers from seizures, the blasting will also effect his eplipsy. My family recently moved from the City of Pueblo to Lime Road, for the fresh, clean air that is currently on Lime Road South. This will all be gone if the cement plant is allowed to be built. They also have a well that feeds off the St. Charles Aquifer, which is used for gazden, yard and home. I am concerned about the pollution to the St. Chazles River from a cement plant being built so close to the river. I am concerned about the blasting for the mining purposes and it's effect on the blue shale in the river bottom, how it will be fractured as the blasting shock waves will travel for a long distance, and the effects on the flow of the river. GCC Rio Grande, Inc. is downplaying the effects of the shock waves. Even in their agreement to purchase property from Douglas G. Thacker, it is noted that disruption and failure of the Dakota water, located neaz the Blake Ranch may occur. A neighbor who resides within a'/z mile of the proposed plant resides in a home, that was built in 1866, of adobe. It was a "way" station and fort for early settlers of Pueblo County. It will surely be damaged by the blasting. GCC Rio Grande, Inc. is planning on using dry scrubbers in the process of making the cement. This method is not suitable in preventing pollution. Our Pueblo County Commissioner, John Klomp recently won arguments for wet scrubbers in the destruction of chemicals at the Pueblo Army Depot. The same should be true of the proposed cement plant, they should use wet scrubbers. The record of the GCC Rio Grande, Inc. company is shaky, they have already changed their name once, it was: Rio Grande Portland Cement. They have also stated