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Sopris Ranger District has sold numerous mineral materials permits for rock over the <br />years, and even had to suspend selling rock in this corridor previously, it would seem <br />that it might be possible to find rock elsewhere either on private land or National Forest <br />System Lands. It appears from the Purpose and Need, <br />"Purpose and Need for Action <br />The purpose of this project is to provide the Gallegos Corporation with a <br />Minerals Material Permit in order to obtain addition rock material from NFS <br />lands for construction purposes. This action is needed, because operations on <br />the existing Conger Harvesting area are nearly complete. Gallegos <br />Corporation desires to continue its operations onto adjacent forest lands <br />and harvest rock talus material located directly adjacent to existing and <br />ongoing operations at the Conger Rock Harvesting Area." (EA Page 5) <br />that the USDA Forest Service is responding to a convenience proposal for the <br />Gallegos Corporation rather than adhering to L&P direction. <br />3. "Decision Framework <br />For this project, the responsible official is the Aspen-Sopris District Ranger. <br />Given the purpose and need, the responsible official reviews the EA in order <br />to make the following decisions: <br />• Should the FS allow Gallegos Corporation to expand their current <br />operation on to NFS Lands and issue a Minerals Materials Permit?" <br />Based on the above information, I would suggest that the answer to this question is <br />no based on the following reasons: <br />1.The L&P is not in compliance with Forest Plan Management Area 4.4, <br />minerals and energy resources, Standard 1. <br />2.The proposal is not in compliance with Forest Plan strategy 2c.7. In <br />addition, it appears that the White River National Forest needs to take <br />immediate action to withdraw this area from mineral entry. <br />I want to thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project and hopefully this <br />project can proceed in a more appropriate area on private lands or National Forest System <br />Lands where appropriate.