The Royal Gorge Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is evaluating a proposal by the Hard Rock Main Pit aggregation mine to expand their current mine operation boundaries. The mine is currently located on private and BLM lands in Fremont County.
Bureau of Land Management Logo courtesy of the BLM
The proposal would allow Hard Rock to expand east and south onto 50 additional acres while also expanding the life of the mine for another 38 years. The expansion would provide access to 10,000 to 50,000 tons of Federal minerals or gravel per year and accommodate a realignment of the mines access roads.
The aggregate would be used to produce asphalt and concrete. Supporters say that access to these reserves will help to meet the future demands of Chaffee County and surrounding areas. Non-energy minerals on BLM lands in Colorado generated $194 million in economic output and supported 615 jobs in 2018.
Royal Gorge Field Manager, Keith Berger explained “this expansion will address local demands for aggregate by providing the proponent access to additional Federal mineral reserves. We look forward to hearing the public’s input on the proposal.”
The BLM will host a public input process to determine relevant issues that could influence the scope of the environmental analysis. Public comments are due by September 9
Scoping comments must be submitted through the BLM planning site or mailed to “Hard Rock Mine Expansion,” 3028 East Main Street, Cañon City, Colorado 81212.
Currently Hard Rock is in Chaffee County off of CR107/108. The proposed expansion is in Chaffee County off of 108 in a residential area on Methodist Mt. Please join us in submitting comments in opposition…extreme impact on environment and wildlife, not to mention current and new Salida Mountain Trails.