2013-03-06_PERMIT FILE - M2013007

Home Browse Search

February 25, 2013 Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman St. Rm 215 Denver, CO 80203 To Whom it May Concern, Jhe m D j 3 - oo 7 RECEIVED MAR 0 92013 ,it I have enclosed a photograph of the Public Notice Posted by Rocky Mountain Aggregate and Construction, LLC ( "the Company "hereafter). This "Public Notice" is placed approximately 40 feet INSIDE their property line at the end of a dead end road, T Road. I have also enclosed the Posted sign that is located at the property line. Generally the gate is dosed, at the time the photo was taken it was open. In addition, the County listed is Mesa County —this property is in Montrose County, and it is the Montrose County Clerk's office that has the copy of the application. It does not seem that this is an acceptable error for a Public Notice of this magnitude. The location is completely unacceptable as well. This gravel pit will have tremendous impact on the local area. According to the Montrose County Master Plan this area not only is not considered a "gravel resource" —see maps on their website, but it is listed as Agricultural, Rural Residential, Critical Mule Deer Habitat, Winter Elk Habitat, and has "Substantial" Wildfire Danger. There are two Diesel tanks requested, one 3,000 gallons and one 10,000 gallons. Should these be allowed year round in "substantial" wildfire danger area? Bio- Logic, who they used to do the wildlife survey, says the area has "no Raptors ". We see Raptors every day, all day in this area; from Red Tails to Golden Eagles to Bald Eagles to Falcons. If this statement is inaccurate, imagine how inaccurate their other statements are. The Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed this property as "Occupied" Sage Grouse territory on their Endangered Species maps. This bird, as you know, is being considered for the Endangered Species list. This land borders BLM on one side and also is home to Mule Deer, Elk, rabbits, red fox, coyotes and many other species found in this area. Every fall the Deer and Elk rut just below the Mesa that the company is proposing to demolish. The Company is proposing a 105 year plan to mine this area! According to their numbers, (which our County planning department says are very low estimates of actual harvest), operating 7 months of the year, 1694 hours, that is 61 trucks per day down T Road, and then most of them return, or one every 6 minutes or so. T Road connects directly to the busy north south highway 550. There are times I sit for minutes just trying to turn onto this highway. The application claims that there would be no noticeable impact on the traffic patterns in this area, this statement is inconceivable. There is a United Gravel pit within one mile of this proposed site. With the extremely poor condition of the economy in Montrose County, l have yet to talk to anyone who sees a need for another gravel pit in this area. While we support healthy competition, why disrupt such a crucial wildlife area AND many people's lives? This property is surrounded on three sides by residences and one side by BLM.