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and "travel as little as a hundred yards or as much as 30 miles." The smaller <br />"particles can stay in the air for days or weeks" and travel "many hundreds <br />of miles. The location of the proposed strip mine, open to the winds <br />(sometimes extreme) is optimal for the dispersal of these harmful particles. <br />Steep decrease in Property Values: A strip- mining operation of this <br />magnitude undermines the value of the surrounding land and suppresses <br />residential and agricultural growth and opportunity in the region. Residential <br />and agricultural properties in the surrounding community can expect a steep <br />decrease (up to 50% within a 6 mile radius) in the value of their property. It <br />will be evident to tourists and prospective investors that southern Montrose <br />County is dominated by industrial activity and is unlikely to attract families, <br />retirees, or agriculturalists. <br />Significant Traffic /Noise Impacts sand Road Degradation: The proposed strip <br />mine's heavy industrial machinery, trucks, rock crushing equipment, loading <br />and earth moving equipment will create constant noise, traffic, and road <br />degradation. Acceleration and de- acceleration lanes will have to be built on <br />Hwy 550 to accommodate heavy trucks. RMA has not offered an <br />explanation of how or who will pay for all the road degradation over the <br />decades the strip mine will be in operation. <br />Major•'i titer Consumption/Pollution Issues: There is no water present on the <br />Mesa where the proposed Strip Mine will be located. RMA will have to <br />truck all the water- into the site. RMA estimates they will need to buy from <br />Tri- County Water 80,000 gallons per day up to 120 days /year. That means <br />9.6 million gallons of drinking water a year to make concrete. In addition, <br />RMA will be utilizing agricultural water resources (116+ shares) and <br />another 4+ acre -feet for dust control. RMA has not explained how the <br />transfer of water resources away from intended agricultural and residential <br />uses will affect the current and future regional water availability or what cost <br />increases will occur for all water users in the county. In addition, a separate <br />pit will be dug on the mesa to hold contaminated water on a permanent <br />basis. <br />Sigrrificajit Lass of`Natural Ulabitat and [ isr•uptiOil oCNVildh1'e Movement: <br />Nearly all of the proposed site is occupied Gunnison Sage Grouse territory <br />according to National Fish and Wildlife Service. This species is being <br />considered for the Endangered Species list, a decision to be made in <br />September of this year. Significant numbers of deer and elk currently utilize <br />the mesa year round for habitat and migration. Numerous other mammals, <br />