2008-05-06_PERMIT FILE - M2008006

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~ ~ w Relford brought up the fact that this type of fencing exists further down the Poudre trail at pits near Greeley. I bike the trail and I am very familiar with these pits and their fences. They are atrocious. At the meeting, The Connell representative, John, was asked what material would be used to backfill the hole. He replied that the un-used portion of the mined product would be used and that nothing would be trucked in. I don't see how this is possible. How can you remove material down to 12+ feet and then backfill to the original grade with what is left over? I'm not a geologist, nor a physicist, but I can figure that out. They will be trucking in foreign material. In addition, what is left over from the mining operation will not be a quality material. It will not sustain plant nor wildlife. In fact, I have personally seen trucks hauling in sludge to the Poudre Heights pit mentioned by John several times. The material does not come in aboard dump trucks, it comes in tankers. It is a vile looking muck that is pumped out and into a pit that looks like it could be used by the Sopranos. I have personally wondered if it is refuse from oil drilling operations. It appears so. I personally asked John if there would be any chemicals used in the mining process. He replied that there would not be. One of the homeowners then reminded him that he had told her that there would be mag-chloride used for dust control. Mag-chloride is a corrosive. Studies done by Colorado State University, UNC and others have shown that magnesium chloride has a negative impact on vegetation and wildlife. In fact, Larimer County has curtailed use ofmag-chloride in eco-sensitive areas. Heavy use of Mag- chloride may indeed affect the health of the residents. The ecosystem of the river itself would be endangered by this pit. In our meeting on Apri124, 2008, we were told that this project would last 48 months, plus 3 months to finish reclamation. There is no guarantee that this will indeed be the time frame. There is no regulation, law or covenant that would provide any reinforcement to timetables. Once approved, the owner and miners can do what they like, with no recourse to the residents of Windsor. I consider this project to be a rape of a valuable resource. It will endanger wildlife and lessen the quality of life of the residents of River West, Ridge West, Bison Ridge and indeed all of Windsor. It will steal money from the residents in the form of property values. There are insufficient safeguards, laws and regulations to ensure that even if we were willing to endure the hardship of the mining operation, that the end result would be palatable. I STRONGLY urge you to reject this project. In fact, I urge you to continue with annexation of the land and exercise imminent domain on the property. It is useless as a site for development, either for residential or commercial use. Instead, I suggest that it be turned into a park. We could name it Chris Serbousck Park! Respectfully, Daniel C. Stutzmann