The BLM Royal Gorge Field Office is considering and evaluating the proposed expansion of the Parkdale Quarry, located west of Cañon City, onto about 700 aces of BLM public lands, which the BLM has found to have Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC).

The BLM has released a draft environmental impact statement and analysis with three alternatives, available at go.usa.gov/xy6tn under the Documents tab. This is accompanied by a 45-day public comment period, which ends March 23.

The BLM will be hosting an open house public meeting on Feb 26 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the Abbey Event Center (2951 US 50) in Cañon City.
 
Comments must be submitted through BLM's ePlanning site at: go.usa.gov/xy6tn or mailed to Parkdale Quarry Expansion Comments, 3028 E. Main St., Cañon City, CO 81212.
 
Wild Connections opposes this proposal because the entirety of the expansion area is within BLM's greater 31,918 acre Echo Canyon Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC).  As a testament to its wilderness character, this area has been proposed for Wilderness numerous times as part of the Table Mountain proposed Wilderness, identified for its unique and extraordinary biological values.  The proposed minerals lease and quarry would permanently impair, and indeed destroy, the wilderness values of these lands.  Furthermore, BLM should consider deferring the project proposal until completion on the ongoing Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan.
 
For more info, alternatives descriptions, talking points, and maps, see Wild Connections new page for the Parkdale Quarry Expansion at Table Mountain.