Bureau of Land Management seeking public comments on Fremont County mineral materials proposal
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CAÑON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office is considering a proposal for a quarry that would occupy approximately 10 acres of BLM-managed lands east of state highway 69 in Fremont County. The Lyons Quarry preliminary Environmental Assessment was released today and will be available for public comment through January 9.
The proposal is based on a request from Mountain Valley Excavating (MVE) for a mineral materials contract, which would authorize the production of Federal minerals to be used to be used primarily as road base and for other construction projects. The contract would provide access to 40,000 tons of Federal minerals (gravel) annually for up to 25 to 30 years based on demand and viability of the material from the site. The proposal includes the establishment of the quarry, access road, and storage of stockpiled material.
“This project will help meet the needs for mineral materials in nearby communities,” said Royal Gorge Field Manager Keith Berger. “We look forward to hearing from our partners and the public on the alternatives proposed in this document.”
In Fiscal Year 2019, non-energy minerals development on BLM lands in Colorado generated approximately $151 million in economic output.
The preliminary Environmental Assessment and other documents, including maps, are available on the BLM ePlanning site at https://go.usa.gov/xf5Tb. Public comments can be submitted through the BLM ePlanning site or mailed to “Lyons Quarry EA Public Comments,” 3028 E Main Street, Cañon City, CO 81212. Comments must be received by January 9, 2021.
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.
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.