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i~ .~1=~~viWx~ ~11~~-~U n~ o a~a~ r~cr~t ~a,a,_,~ JET, n~ 2D06 SEP -6 PM 2~ 28 September 5, 2006 David Lehmann Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior 2815 H. Road Grand Junction, CO 81506 Joanne Leischuck 1910 10 Road Mack, Co 81525 970-858-3323 bihawk ,macdialuo.com Re: Red Cliff Coal Mine and Railroad Spur Scoping Issues Dear Mr. Lehmann: I am principally focusing on the proposed railroad spur and its impacts. I live on ] 0 Road in the valley area north of Mack Mesa, which will be impacted by the railroad spur. My first preference would be that the location of the railroad spur be moved to access East Salt Creek Wash and proceed in the Wash or that it be moved west to the old alignment of the Uintah Railway. If relocation of the proposed spur is not an option, I believe that the following issues aze important in considering the proposal as presently located: Noise, View, and Dust: The railroad spur is proposed to cross the Highline Canal and proceed south to Mack Mesa where it will turn westerly and proceed to 10 Road where it will tum in a southerly direction and proceed down East Sah Creek Wash to the Town of Mack. The valley east of 10 Road and North of Mack Mesa is, at this point, beautiful, serene, and relatively undeveloped. Our main view is to the south, southeast and southwest. The proposed spur will result in a cut and rails which will be visible to us for the entire distance from where the spur wilt cross the Highline Canal to where it will cross t0 Road. For that entire distance, which is approximately a mile, Mack Mesa functions as a megaphone by reflecting noise back to the north. We expect that the noise from the train's engines, the rumble and squeal of the cars, the horns, and the attendant 10 Road crossing signals will be excessive and disruptive to an otherwise quite area. Especially with a 2% grade from the Town of Mack to the Red Cliff Mine. We are also concerned that the trains and any roads and/or activity along the side of the tracks will create dust.