Urgent- Hardrock Paving Expansion could destroy the Solstice Trail. Public Comment Needed!

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Hard Rock Paving & Redi-Mix, Inc. operates a quarry south of Salida. The current mine footprint consists of both private and BLM land. The company recently applied to the BLM to expand the existing mining area. The additional area includes approximately 50 acres of BLM land, and the proposed expansion of the mining area would effectively destroy the existing BLM approved Solstice Trail.

Salida Mountain Trails opposes any expansion of this mining area that would impact any BLM approved trails – specifically the Solstice Trail.  We urge the BLM to require that the expansion area NOT affect the Solstice Trail whatsoever.

As part of the approval process, the BLM is currently seeking public comments on the expansion. Comments must be submitted by Sept. 30, 2020. For more information and to easily submit comments online, go to  https://go.usa.gov/xf5TN Be sure to check out the maps that clearly show significant overlap of their requested expansion and use the green “Participate Now” link to leave a comment. We have received several messages that the website does not work well on mobile devices.

SMT encourages all Methodist Mountain trail users and SMT supporters in general to provide comments to the BLM opposing any impact to the Solstice Trail.  Personalized messages are most effective.  In commenting on the proposed expansion – SMT suggests that commenters keep in mind the following:

  • SMT began approval process for the Solstice Trail in 2013 and worked diligently with the BLM to complete approval in 2017. After this 4 year approval process, SMT then worked for two more years to raise funds, plan, and construct this awesome trail in 2019 at a cost of $50,000.
  • This trail has become one of the most popular trails in the Salida system. It is inconceivable to approve a mining expansion that would destroy this trail that was fully approved by the BLM after years of formal BLM process, including an extensive environmental assessment and two rounds of public comments.
  • SMT urges the BLM to not approve any expansion that overlays the current footprint of the existing Solstice trail.  If any expansion is approved, it should not affect the Solstice Trail.  There is no reason to approve an expansion that will negatively impact current trail users.
  • According to numerous recent surveys, outdoor recreation rates among the things that people love most about Chaffee County and is a major economic driver for the area.  Increasing demands on outdoor recreation resources have outpaced the growth in recreational facilities and infrastructure. The destruction of hard-won public land recreation resources via this expansion of a mineral extraction giveaway on public land is wrong on every level.