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July 20, 2009 <br />Tony Waldron <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />Room 225 <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80902 <br />Dear Mr. Waldron; <br />Attached please find the documents including exhibits required to file a 110 Construction <br />Materials Permit. <br />In preparing this permit, several thoughts come to mind that I would like to discuss. I have been <br />involved in a passive and non-passive role in the mining industry for over 24 years working <br />individually and with other mining operations. I am a jeweler by trade, but have worked on and <br />operated heavy equipment, built and worked on conveyors, belt feeders, trommels. Grizzly <br />feeders, hoppers, sluice boxes and other equipment related to a working mine. I am not new to <br />this industry and understand the process associated with this type of operation. <br />This application is presented for a 110 construction materials permit, a small mining operation. <br />As you are aware, properties are zoned for commercial, for residential and for other type of land <br />uses. This property is zoned for mining in Park County and has been for quite sometime. I am <br />not presenting a plan to build a large shopping center covering 40 acres or a Summitville Mine <br />encompassing 500 acres with a 73 foot leach field using chemicals to extract ore. ][ am seeking to <br />permit for less than 5 acres which would include the road to the site with a pit less than 2 acres in <br />size. <br />Being around the mining industry for a period of time, I understand that questions may arise <br />when looking at a new venture. But I also know there are much larger operations around the <br />country, in the State of Colorado, and even in the Fairplay area that are more complex in nature. <br />Fairplay was built with strong mining influences and currently has active mining operations. In <br />my 24 mining year involvement, I have rubbed shoulders and worked with and spoken with <br />mining icons such as Ben Wright, LM Drake and know operators around Colorado. I currently <br />own other mining properties in the Fairplay area and have since 1993, which is probably longer <br />than a number of residents who presently live in the area. I have been working on i his permit for <br />5 years and it is unfortunate if real estate developers purchased land without checking the area to <br />see that the existing land use for this property is zoned mining. <br />The environmental effect of the operation with wildlife, vegetation, noise, dust, groundwater and <br />other related issues will be minimal. The process to wash the material will entail the use of <br />natural water with no chemicals added into the production. A front end loader and track hoe will <br />be used which is the same equipment used by construction companies and developers to dig <br />commercial building foundations, residential homes, or roads. Only a few aspen trees will be <br />removed under the permit application so any ecological fears or greenhouse concerns should be <br />alleviated. The area is flat rangeland or grassland so visibility of the pit to surrounding <br />highways, nearby businesses, and any adjacent neighbors would be minimal. The site will have <br />"No Trespassing" signs posted and fencing will be updated for security and safety purposes.