Steinhoff Hill

[mpta...@aol.com]

Dear Commissioners

My family owns and ranches approximately 1200 acres to the immediate south of the 480 acres called Steinhoff Hill owned by the State Land Board with considerations of leasing this parcel for sand and gravel mining.

We are adamantly opposed to this plan for multiple reasons. Much of our property just below this area is in a conservation easement. Our cattle with mothers and babies are in very close proximity to this land and the overall disruption, air pollution and noise will be a major disruption to our operation. Visually this will be significantly disturbing to see and hear mining in this very beautiful area. Elk and deer cross through this area on a regular basis. Migration patterns will be adversely  affected. There is a large group of bighorn sheep that live on our property in very close proximity to this proposed mining area. These sheep typically cross and graze and frequent the Steinhoff Hill. I worry the sheep will be significantly disturbed and mating and birth jeopardized.

We respectively request you deny use of this area for mining with irreversible damage to the land and sensitive ecosystems involved.

Thank you,

Joy and Michael Ptasnik