Following three days of hearings, the State Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Board denied Peak Materials a permit to mine gravel in the Blue River Valley. The Board voted unanimously to prevent the project from going forward.

Members of the Board cited concerns with the overall reclamation plan submitted by Peak. They expressed issues with water quantity and quality affected by mining operations, the impact on the Blue River and wildlife migration and safety.

The Board also recognized the risk to the residents living near the proposed mining site, specifically the loss of drinking water in individual wells that could result if mining begins

Friends of the Lower Blue River wishes to thank all of the stakeholders in the Blue River Valley who expressed opposition to this project. Thanks to all the expert witnesses and legal minds who devoted so many hours to present a great case. Mostly we wish to thank the members of the DRMS/MLRB Board: Tim Mauck, John Singletary, Karin Utterback-Norman, Nell Wareham-Morris and Board Chair Lauren Duncan, for seeing through the DRMS Staff recommendation to approve the permit application.

We will continue to keep you posted as this story plays out. It is ultimately our wish Peak Materials is willing to cut its losses and sell the former Hillyard property to a group of Blue River Valley stakeholders wanting to preserve the land for generations to come.