Many Salida residents have shared concerns over the proposed Hard Rock expansion. As previously reported by Ark Valley Voice, the proposal would allow Hard Rock to expand onto an additional 50 acres east and south. This would in turn expand the mine’s life for 38 years.
One of the major companies involved in this project is Ary Corporation which specializes in heavy highway construction, aggregate processing, trucking and Redi-mix. The corporation is based in Cañon City and appears to be no stranger to paving projects.
An original open-pit gravel quarry request by John Paul Ary in Pueblo County was met with opposition by two women who objected to the quarry due to concerns surrounding the quality of life and pollution. The two were later sued by Ary. The defamation lawsuit was later dismissed.
Ary later sued Pueblo County on June 16, 2017, on claims that the board improperly granted an appeal of the decision from the county’s planning commission in relation to the proposed mining gravel operation, near Avondale east of Pueblo. The complaint was later dismissed by Judge Allison Ernst. Ary then filed with the Colorado Court of Appeals. The court later concluded that the lower court’s decision was in fact correct, where the decision was then pushed back to the commissioners.
Since this expansion might be used for gravel production for future roads within Chaffee County, another major company has a seat at the table and it appears to be international. All concrete production and creation originate from cement manufactured at the dry kiln, owned by the Swiss-based international Corporation Holcim LaFarge. Currently, Holcim LaFarge is working to acquire Colorado based aggregate companies.
If approved, not only would two major corporations have access to the county’s public lands, but there are also many potential impacts. The following comments were consolidated in order to submit to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office in response to a request for public scoping comments on a proposed expansion of the Hard Rock Main Pit aggregate mine south of Salida in Chaffee County.
- “The proposed expansion will have a negative impact on wildlife habitat in the area. The area is habitat for numerous birds and a wide variety of other wildlife including deer, foxes, black bears, and mountain lions, to name a few. Wildlife will be displaced as mining operations expand.
- Safety is currently an issue on CR 106/107/108. The number of cars and bicycles as well as trucks hauling material from the pit have increased on this narrow road. Although Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42 requires truckloads to be covered while on public roads, trucks are frequently seen leaving the Hard Rock facility uncovered. This road has no shoulder and is unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists due to heavy trucks accessing the Hard Rock facility. Safety for road users and residents could be adversely impacted with this expansion.
- Dust, Silica; It’s a fact that surface mining and transport of aggregates is a source of increased dust, silica and noise. Chaffee County is a frequently windy area and the wind generally blows from the west, which would be from the pit toward the CR 108 corridor. Dust and air emissions from Hard Rock operations are currently noticeable in residential areas adjacent to CR 108. The expansion of their mining operation would increase airborne particulates. This increased discharge would represent a health hazard to the adjacent communities.
- Noise: Sound travels uphill and is also affected by the wind, according to a San Luis Obispo County (CA) Noise Analysis for a gravel quarry. Noise will be expected from hauling equipment, back-up alarms, crushing, and loading activities. Expanded mining operations would take away the existing buffer provided by trees and topographic features, resulting in increased particulate and sound impacts to residential areas.
Salida has become a destination for recreation, including mountain biking and hiking. CR 106, 107 and 108 all have numerous access points for users of the Methodist Mountain trail system including the Little Rainbow Trail and the recently completed Solstice Trail.
The Solstice Trail was built with the coordination and financial support of Salida Mountain Trails and the BLM, however, the route of the Solstice Trail would actually be within the gravel pit under proposals #1 and #3.”
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