As previously reported by Ark Valley Voice, Hard Rock Paving and Redi-Mix has asked the Bureau of Land Management for approval to more than double the size of their existing rock and gravel mining operation.
They are asking for an additional 50-acre open pit mine expansion on BLM land on the lower flanks of Methodist Mountain in Salida. If this expansion is approved as proposed, Solstice Trail, a popular and heavily used multi-use, non-motorized trial, will be included in the expansion and ultimately destroyed.
The Solstice trail. Image courtesy of Singletracks.
Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) has worked with the BLM more than four-years to complete the required Environmental Assessment Process then spent an additional two years coordinating with the BLM to plan the detailed trail route and fund construction.
During the trail planning period, BLM, SMT and Hard Rock mining resources met several times. A verbal agreement was made that the planned trail route would not overlap with Hard Rock’s expansion – at the time. SMT representatives say they were grateful for the verbal agreement then and their willingness to coordinate.
The trail was completed as planned in June of 2019 at a cost of approximately $60,000 which included volunteer hours and BLM staff time. The project was funded utilizing State Trail Grants.
Then, after the completion of the trail, Hard Rock contacted SMT to communicate their planned expansion and requested if SMT would agree to move the trail at Hard Rock’s expense to allow for additional expansion area.
Image courtesy of Salida Mountain Trails.
According to SMT there is not a suitable trail alignment anywhere near the present trail location. They say that moving the trial would be a waste of public money, both federal tax dollars and state grant monies, as well as undermining years of local efforts by SMT volunteers and BLM employee staff time to review and approve the Solstice trail.
In addition, Hard Rock is alleging that the Solstice Trail was not built exactly where it had been planned. But trail advocates say the trail was in fact constructed within an acceptable corridor that was approved by the BLM in order to ensure a sustainable trail was ultimately built.
In September of 2020, the BLM asked for initial public comments concerning the proposed expansion. It received more than 800 written comments from community members as well as local businesses. The BLM is now developing the required Environmental Analysis of the proposed open-pit mine expansion which will soon be published.
There is an upcoming 30-day public comment period after which the BLM will then issue their binding decision. SMT urges community members to submit their comments and make their voices heard no matter where they stand on the issue. As the information becomes available, it will be released on SMT’s website and Facebook page.
Recent Comments