Talking Points for the Gravel Pit

A Gravel Mine and Rock Crushing operation smack dab in the middle of a planned Mountain Bike Trail system on Jackson Mountain?

The proposed site is only 1900 ft from the

nearest homes in San Juan River Village!

A 25 Ton Dump Truck on Jackson Mountain

Road Every 24 minutes!

Mountain Bike Recreation and

Dump Trucks Don't Mix!

With over 1,000,000 acres of San Juan National Forest, we cannot understand why this site so close to homes, was chosen in the 1st place! Please support our efforts to stop this mine!

Object online to ensure your objection is recorded in the PUBLIC RECORD! (How to Object details are on our home page!)

Also an in-person comment opportunity is scheduled for February 2nd, 5PM – 7PM at the Ross Aragon Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd., Pagosa Springs.

Summary of Concerns - Current Location

Health

Crystalline Silica generated during the mining process is a well-known and documented health hazard.

Wind directions in the summertime will invariably draw the dust particle into our

neighborhood; many in our neighborhood have existing conditions that this would put them at severe risk. (Proposed mountain bike trail system affected)?

Our experience from recent logging is these trucks will pulverize the dirt / gravel roads

creating a dust hazard for our community and forest users on the trails (E.g. Mountain bikers) Re: Inhalable particulate matter! (Google search: Inhalable Particulate Matter Health NIH).

Safety (Vehicle and Pedestrian)

Trucks coming down Jackson Mountain Rd will pulverize the dirt / gravel roads and create a

safety hazard for those driving for recreation.

The HWY160 Corridor that runs through our neighborhood is already a big safety issue as

residents & visitors (~ 50 STRs) and residents trying to enter / exit HWY160 (Speed limit is 65mph) – NO traffic signal...Our concern is increased potential for a major and possibly fatal accident to occur. Ask the residents that live near these intersections!

Noise

Due to the proximity and geography, noise from the crusher, truck's backing up, and truck

movement will inevitably be amplified through our neighborhood (landscape features may amplify – A draw feeds into SJRV from proposed mine site)

Wildlife

This may disrupt the Deer, Elk, Turkey and other wildlife populations which are plentiful in this area

Socio-Economic

The value of homes in SJRV may go down approximately 5 - 25% (published studies by Lansik 2014, Hite 2015) if a mine is put in the current location

A Bit More Detail

Archuleta County is partnering with the Pagosa District of the San Juan National Forest to put a gravel mine / pit and rock crushing operation on FSR 738, just off of FSR37 - AKA Jackson Mountain Road.

The proposed site is less than 2000 ft from the nearest homes in San Juan River Village and

designed for placement in the middle of a newly planned mountain bike trail system! The NFS has estimated the number of large gravel trucks to be > 20 per day (one every 24 minutes, every single day, M-F) that will share this small forest road (FR37) with mountain recreation users including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

The mining operation may create a severe health, safety, environmental, wildlife, and economic issue for not just the SJRV neighborhood due to inhalable particulate (micro dust) for mountain bikers and traffic safety for all Jackson Mountain road users.

Public Comment Period

The USFS announced their “scoping period” (public comment period) that will open on January 10th and close on February 23, 2023. Opinion / comments must be submitted by no later than February 23,

2023.