| Contacts: | Denise Adamic, BLM (719) 269-8553 |
BLM finalizes gravel quarry environmental assessment (12-20-12)
CAÑON CITY, Colo. – The BLM Royal Gorge Field Office has completed its environmental assessment of an application to develop 78.72 acres of BLM-managed surface and federal minerals in Fremont County adjacent to a privately-owned quarry. The application was submitted by Tezak Heavy Equipment Company, Inc. (dba) T.H.E. Aggregate Source, of Canon City.
The proposed mining operations would mirror current activities on the privately-owned land and minerals adjacent to the BLM lands.
Now that the RGFO has approved the proposal, the BLM will hold a competitive mineral materials sale. The winning bidder will receive a contract to remove approximately 450,000 tons of rock annually for 10 years with an option to renew the contract.
To view the BLM’s final EA, log on to: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/rgfo.html and click on the top link in the “NEPA Projects” section. You can also visit the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 East Main, Cañon City, Colo. 81212.
The BLM released the draft EA Oct. 4, and accepted public comments through Nov. 8. The BLM reviewed those comments and addressed them in the final EA. This final EA, as well as all mitigation developed through the assessment, will be forwarded to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining Safety and Fremont County for inclusion in their individual permitting processes.
The current quarry produces construction-grade granite aggregate. The rock is used throughout Colorado in construction projects such as stream bank protection, landscaping, and asphalt and concrete products. The material to be produced from the BLM lands will be used for similar projects.
In 2011, the Tezak Heavy Equipment Company employed 46 people in Fremont County, paying more than $2.3 million dollars in employee wages and $10,600 in County and City sales taxes. Last year alone, mineral and energy development on public lands generated $4.9 billion dollars. More than 22,900 jobs in Colorado were tied to this industry.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.