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• ~II II~II~II~II~~ II~ • <br />999 <br />The Try Works <br />Donald and Mary Baker <br />47800 County Road X <br />P. 0. Box 6 <br />Saguache. Colorado 81149 <br />March 17, 1995 <br />Division of Minerals and Geology ~ R s ~ 7 S <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Sirs: <br />~x <br />2~ 1996 <br />Division of Minears B GeoloBY <br />It is our wish to comment on the application by Saguache County for a <br />gravel permit on County Road 97 for the pit known as the Coleman Gravel Pit. <br />In 1992, we explored our property which is ad,~acent to the pit and decided <br />to apply fora gravel permit for 10 scree or less. There is no gravel available <br />in this part of the county for the private and commercial users and we had <br />numerous offers to buy the gravel we could produce. Part way through the <br />paperwork, we were told by the Rio Grande Water Conservancy Board that to develop <br />a pit in the area, we needed several acre feet of irrigation water for each acre <br />of pit to replace water which would be evaporated from the area. Unable to <br />finance the water, we restored the area we had tested and did not continue the <br />process of applying. <br />Since buying the property, the County has had water in the pit virtually <br />every year. For the County to obtain a permit for the land, they should be <br />required to pay the landowners affected back for the many acre-feet of water they <br />have allowed to evaporate and if a permit is granted, it would be extremely <br />unfair to allow them to operate without the required replacement water. <br />At the time we were exploring our land, we were visited by the state <br />geologist, Mr. Posey, and told we must atop exploration immediately. Why is it <br />that the county continues to move tons of gravel each day even though the pit ie <br />not permitted? There seems to be a double standard! <br />In addition, we are not in favor of the pit being used as a dumping ground <br />for waste highway and right-of-way material including old culverts, cement, end <br />drama of what is apparently highway o11. <br />The County has been a good neighbor otherwise; however, it is unfair for <br />the county road department to be able to have a pit outside the rules and <br />regulations of the State Land Mining Board while private citizens are unable to <br />operate a pit in a similar manner. <br />~~~~~~ <br />~~~ <br />~J* <br /> <br />Donald G. Baker <br />'°I <br />