The public comment period is now open for a proposed mining expansion on Methodist Mountain that could degrade the quality of the Solstice Trail — or force it to relocate.
We urge everyone to comment, no matter your take, as this is a major decision impacting our community. We offer a brief summary with our thoughts below, but urge you to make up your own mind and make your voice heard.
The comment period closes August 14th
To comment:
1) Go to https://go.usa.gov/xf5TN
2) Click “Documents” to read the Environment Assessment
3) Click “Participate Now” to submit your comments.
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What’s at issue
Hard Rock Paving & Redi-Mix, Inc., has asked BLM to approve a 62-acre expansion on BLM land, which would more than double the size of their existing rock and gravel mining operation. If this expansion is approved as proposed, one of Salida’s most popular and heavily used trails would fall within the proposed expansion area and have to be moved and/or compromised.
In its Environmental Assessment (
- “Alternative A – Operator Proposed Action” — BLM approves the entire 62-acre proposal. This would mean destroying and rebuilding the top third of Solstice further east of its present location, at Hard Rock’s expense. Unfortunately, this will be difficult to do as much of this area is a large, long wash. The remaining two-thirds of the trail will have only a 30-foot buffer to the edge of mining operations. A rerouted trail will not maintain its existing character, and will be significantly compromised.
- “Alternative B – No Bike Trail Disturbance” — This would allow a 41-acre expansion, and would not require redesigning or relocating the Solstice Trail. However, the expansion footprint would parallel the eastern edge of the entire existing trail, with only a 30-foot buffer. SMT feels this would be a workable alternative only if the buffer were increased to at least 200 feet, so that trail users are protected from the noise and dust associated with the mining operation.
- “Alternative C – Denial of Road Realignment and Expansion Proposal” – BLM denies any expansion on BLM land, with no impact on the Solstice Trail. The EA describes how this would affect Hard Rock, future operations, and economic concerns.
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SMT’s position
SMT does not support Alternative A nor B in their current forms due to the concerns noted above. If Alternative B had a larger buffer, we think this could be a win-win for the trail system, the community, and Hard Rock. We even worked with Hard Rock and the BLM—before ever breaking ground on Solstice—on an agreement for a smaller expansion that wouldn’
We still believe there can be a solution that permits some expansion without sacrificing the quality and character of one of our most prized and beloved trails. SMT would support Alt. B with the modification of at least a 200-foot buffer between the trail and the mining expansion. However, BLM has presented no such option, so SMT is commenting in support of the only one (Alternative C) that would ensure no impacts to Solstice.
Background on Solstice Trail
The Solstice Trail is a BLM-approved, non-motorized multi-use trail. SMT worked with the BLM over a four-year period to complete the required Environment Assessment process, and then worked for two additional years in coordination with the BLM to plan the detailed trail route and fund/execute construction. As described in the BLM approval, Solstice is a bike-optimized ‘flow’ trail that utilizes very specific terrain which took volunteers hundreds of hours to design. To avoid just this sort of future conflict, SMT, BLM staff and Hard Rock representatives met to discuss future mine expansion plans. During these meetings, there was verbal agreement that our planned trail route/alignment would not overlap with their plans for expansion. SMT volunteers were grateful for their verbal agreement and willingness to coordinate with us on this at that time. They later changed their minds. The trail was completed as planned in June 2019 at a cost of approximately $60,000 (including all the volunteer hours and BLM staff time), and was funded utilizing a difficult to obtain State Trails Grant.
Send feedback to BLM
To comment:
1) Go to https://go.usa.gov/xf5TN
2) Click “Documents” to read the Environment Assessment
3) Click “Participate Now” to submit your comments.
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Bottom line, we ask each of you to spend the time to read through the EA (beginning page 10 – Proposed Actions and Alternatives), consider our thoughts, and submit your comments as you see fit.
These are your public lands and you have a say.