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8. Structures <br />The eastern edge of the affected area is traversed by a trail that was relocated slightly when CYMC <br />began operations in 1990. This trail begins at the parking area at the north end of the White Marble <br />Lode Claim, leads up along Yule Creek to the base of the quarry, follows a slight ridge line between the <br />waste piles and Yule Creek, then led to the quarry entries. Access to this trail is via the historic right of <br />way established by the wagon road to the quarry constructed in the late 1800's, and then by the electric <br />railroad beginning in 1908. The railroad was removed in 1941 when the quarry closed. During the <br />1940's through the late 1990's, access was open to the public. Four wheel drive vehicles could reach the <br />quarry entries up until the 1970's when the road washed out along Yule Creek just north of the quarry <br />entries. After the wash outs, access was limited to hikers. This trail is shown on Map C -2. <br />Access along the trail is now blocked by the owner of the Yule Lode Claim (McIntyre) based upon a <br />decision by the Colorado Supreme Court holding that the trail where its crosses the McIntyre property is <br />private, not public. In an agreement with Gunnison County in 1999, the portion of the trail that crosses <br />land controlled by Colorado Stone is currently a public right of way, interrupted in areas where the trail <br />crosses McIntyre property. The same agreement with Gunnison County provides that the parking area to <br />the north of the trail is also dedicated to public use. <br />CYMC constructed a new road from the parking area, up through what is known as Quarry Town, to the <br />new quarry portal just below the North Portal (Portal #1) of the quarry. Most of this road is excluded <br />from the affected area defined in this permit application. The road lies entirely on private land owned <br />by OMYA, Inc., and leased to Sierra, now to Colorado Stone Quarries. Because the reserves of marble <br />on site could last well over 100 years at maximum envisioned production rates, OMYA has requested <br />that this road be left after mining is complete to allow future access to the quarry area. Attached to this <br />application is a letter from OMYA stating this request. <br />A wooden "A" frame cable support tower, approximately 40 feet tall, is located at the southeast corner <br />of the Middle Portal (Portal # 2) of the quarry. This tower was left from the operation of the quarry <br />before 1941. It has become an historic landmark that symbolizes the efforts of the early miners. By <br />1988, the tower had deteriorated to the point that it had become unstable. Soon thereafter, the Marble <br />Yule Quarry April 2012 12 <br />