Laserfiche WebLink
• • III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <br />RECEIVED 999 <br />MAR 0 7 2001 February 26, 2001 <br />piyision of Minerals and Geolo9Y ~ -;° r ~: ~ • r-- ,.-. - • --.. r h <br />1. ... ~ _.':. :~..e <br />Ms.Suzi Ericksen ;~' - ,;. ; ~ '.,••. • ~_.°a ~s <br />Division of Minerals and Geology :._: _ ~? _ Zca ~ _ ~~~ ~ Received <br />701 Camino Del Rio .- •~ -----~'- -- ~--° <br />Durango,CO 81301 '"' -~ = Lfne ~,MI -~ <br />MAR (i 1. 2001 <br />Subject: Public Comment on Line Camp Gravel Pit puraYgo Field Orrice <br />Application File No. M-2001-001 pivlaionotMineralsgGeology <br />Dear Ms. Ericksen: <br />After reviewing the subject application I wish to enter into the <br />public record the following comments, observations and recommendations. <br />1) The pit mining operations as proposed will result in increased <br />dissolved solids loads in ground and surface water. Disturbances in <br />the alluvial strata itself resulting from the removal of sand and gravel <br />along with the proposed mechanical crushing and washing of rock <br />products will release and/or concentrate water soluble mineral matter <br />into free flowing ground and surface waters. Some of these water soluble <br />minerals will be in the form of heavy metal mineral salts, a number <br />of which have been identified as naturally occuring human carcinogens, <br />Mineral salts of arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead <br />and mercury to name a few may be present in the gravel alluvium of <br />the proposed pit. Additionally, the presence of dissolved iron salts is <br />highly probable at this location and while not considered a carcinogen, <br />excessive intake of dietary iron through tap water or through other <br />means has in very preliminary studies been linked to elevated risk of <br />heart disease. These water soluble minerals cannot realistically be <br />removed by the planned sediment basin treatment protocols. <br />2) Significant adverse impact on the Dolores River fishery habitat at the <br />point of the sediment basin discharge outflow and at locations <br />downstream can be expected to result from both elevated water <br />temperatures and increased levels of suspended sedimentary solids not <br />removed at the sediment basin. <br />(page 1) <br />