Click on our Trippons logo for great savings in Summit County and other Mountain Towns!
April brought near-record warmth to Colorado
Key Colorado reservoirs unlikely to fill this year
Study pins down I-70 ski traffic patterns
New life for the Upper Arkansas River
Udall, Bennet want review of USFS prescribed fire policy
Climbing La Plata Peak
Volcanoes just a drop in the global CO2 bucket
Himalayan glaciers not melting as fast as thought
Gulf oysters tainted by metals from Deepwater oil spill
Community asking BLM to do full environmental impact statement
A site plan of the proposed Destiny Mine in Fairplay, Colorado.
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Fairplay residents fighting for a full environmental review of a proposed goldmine near a residential neighborhood got some political help last month, as U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall urged the Bureau of Land Management officials ito consider the input of community leaders and residents before a decision is made on the proposed Destiny Placer Mine in Park County.
The BLM is currently evaluating the mine under an environmental assessment, a process that, by law, must end with a finding of no significant impact. Many residents, as well as town and county officials are on record as opposing the mine, or at least in support of having the BLM do a full-scale environmental impact statement, a higher level of scrutiny under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The mine would operate between five and 10 years, shutting down for four to five months during the winter. The mine depth is estimated at 25 feet although the total depth of the deposit is estimated at 120 feet. The applicant indicated in the submissions that there could be a plan amendment submitted in the future to increase the pit depth to 50 feet.
In a letter to BLM State Director Helen Hankins and District Manager Greg Shoop, the senators underscored that many locals don’t believe the environmental assessment adequately address potential impacts from the proposed mine, “given its location within the town of Fairplay and proximity to local neighborhoods.”
The Park County commissioners said development of the mine would “destroy the marketability” of existing and proposed homes in the area. The mine would also affect recreational amenities in the area and potentially compromise water quality and trout fishery on the Middle Fork of the South Platte River.
Along with the letter, the Senators relayed comments and requests from local residents, organizations and elected leaders from the Park County Board of Commissioners, the Town of Fairplay and others expressing their concerns, which include potential damage to property values and marketability in residential developments adjacent to the mine, and the impact on the local tourism economy, including a nearby recreation area. To read those comments, click here.
Colorado Springs-based Destiny Mining LLC first submitted its proposal to the BLM in 2009, and a draft environmental assessment was released for comment last year. Local officials sought the senators’ assistance in ensuring their concerns were heard.
Full text of the letter:
Dear State Director Hankins and District Manager Shoop,
We are writing to relay concerns we have received with regard to the Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed Fairplay-Destiny Placer Mine in Park County. As you know, Destiny Mining, LLC is proposing a gold, sand and gravel placer mining operation of approximately five acres within the town of Fairplay. Mine operations at the site are expected to last between five and ten years should the mine be approved.
Municipal organizations, citizens, and the Park County Board of County Commissioners have expressed concerns that the Draft Environmental Assessment does not adequately address the potential impacts from the proposed mine, given its location within the town of Fairplay and proximity to local neighborhoods.
Enclosed are several documents from Park County community leaders and residents that request a full Environmental Impact Statement before a decision on the mine is rendered.
We are writing to relay the sentiments of our constituents. We would appreciate your review of this correspondence and your submission of any response you feel warranted.
Thank you for your consideration regarding this issue.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Bennet Mark Udall
U.S. Senator U.S. Senator
Filed under: BLM, Colorado, Environment, public lands, Summit County news, water Tagged: | Bureau of Land management, Colorado, Destiny Mine proposal, Fairplay Colorado, Mark Udall, Michael Bennet
Powder's falling at Monarch!! Have you reserved your spot yet?
Innovative energy underwrites coverage of energy stories.
Considering the affect that placer mining has on the environment, the citizens should be concerned. One might look at the result of that process east of Sacramento California along highway 50, to see the results. That the environment is permanently altered, well, they should decide, not some bureaucrat sitting behind a desk somewhere.
Norman, your comparison of the potential effects of the planned gold mine in Fairplay to the environmental “alteration” in Sacramento is disingenuous at best, ignorant, and most likely representative of a desire for NIMBYist policies by others to prevent landowners the right to use their property as they see fit in an environmentally sound manner. I’m guessing you know this, but the Sacramento placer mining you mention was done well over a century ago using unregulated hydraulic mining methods that are no longer allowed, nor are planned for this placer mine.
My guess is that the homeowners you mention know that FairPlay is a historic mining district and was originally settled by miners. Further, desiring to create a “wilderness” from that which is not by usurping others’ property rights seems a bit unfair and unAmerican. Especially in a town named Fair-play.
John, you are the one showing ignorance. I brought up what happened in California, which I might add, there are no homes around there. My cousin owned Yuba Dredging that went around that who area collecting Gold back in the 50′s, which went into the 60′s. Also, I didn’t mention any homeowners.
Norman, Your additional statements make your original comment further confusing, to wit:
1) The original article mentions the local homeowners and landowners as being the concerned citizens being “helped” by the additional scrutiny encouraged by the senators. If these people are not your concern, who are the “citizens” you mention in your comment that should decide the issue?
2) Are you saying the “alteration” near Sacramento due to placer mining was largely caused by Yuba Dredging, and that the damage from hydraulic mining was not your concern? Note the mining method planned for this site is not dredging and its impacts would be vastly different from the Sacramento example you reference.
John, you are confused, because you want to be. Go to sleep forget this B&F for you are not making any sense nor do I want to play this game.
Norman, apparently you do not want to clearly explain your allegations. Being clear and telling the truth is not a game. If you really have some significant issues to raise and not just anti-mining rants, please clarify them for all of us. No, all placer mining is not the same – this plan is not similar to the Sacramento placer “alteration” or the dredging you referenced. Get some detail, then discuss it…