The owners of the last working mine in Pitkin County say they are within 90 feet of making years of hard work and investment pay off when they strike a lucrative black marble vein. They are eager to get an operating permit renewed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Neighbors in the Crystal Valley dread the return of operations after having experienced damage to their homes and shattering of their tranquility from prior use of explosives at the mine. Environmentalists are concerned about potential effects on wildlife. They want mining operations severely limited, if they must be tolerated at all.
The U.S. Forest Service will make the call on what can occur at the Mystic Eagle Mine, about 11.5 miles south of Carbondale and 6.5 miles north of Redstone. The agency is undertaking an environmental study of the mine’s effects. Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Scott Snelson will ultimately decide under what conditions the mine can operate.
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