The Bureau of Land Management Evaluating Aggregate Mine Expansion in Chaffee County
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CAÑON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office is seeking public scoping comments on a proposed expansion of the Hard Rock Main Pit aggregate mine south of Salida in Chaffee County, Colorado. The proposal is based on a request from Hard Rock Paving & Redi-Mix, Inc. (Hard Rock) to expand the boundaries of their current mine operation, which is currently located on private and the BLM lands.
“This expansion will address local demands for aggregate by providing the proponent access to additional Federal mineral reserves,” said Royal Gorge Field Manager Keith Berger. “We look forward to hearing the public’s input on the proposal.”
The proposal would permit Hard Rock to expand its operation east and south onto approximately 50 additional acres of the BLM lands, extending the life of the mine for another 38 years. The expansion would provide access to 10,000 to 50,000 tons of Federal minerals (gravel) annually and would accommodate a realignment of the mine access road for safety. The aggregate would be used in the production of asphalt and concrete. Access to the BLM reserves would help sustain supplies of aggregate to help meet future demands in Chaffee County and surrounding areas.
In Fiscal Year 2018, non-energy minerals on the BLM lands in Colorado generated approximately $194 million in economic output and supported 650 jobs.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the Environmental Assessment. Scoping comments will be most helpful if received by Sept. 9, 2020, and must be submitted through the BLM ePlanning site at https://go.usa.gov/xf5TN or mailed to “Hard Rock Mine Expansion,” 3028 E Main Street, Cañon City, CO 81212.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comments, please be advised that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request the BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
-BLM-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.