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' Colonel Steven G. West 4 ' In preparation of this rePort several reviews were received for the December 1986 and September 1987 drafts of this report. Below is a discussion of salient ' points from those reviews. Mitigation Policy 1 Concerns were expressed about the Resource Category 1 designation of the South Platte River and the goal of no loss of habitat values and the Resource Category 2 designation for wetlands. One reviewer recommended that all references to resource categories be deleted. We have expanded the discussion of all Resource Category 1 areas and the Resource Category 2 for wetlands. To delete resource category designations for this project would be contrary to Service policy. The goal of no loss of habitat for the Resource Category 1 areas on the South Platte River clearly is not attainable if Two Forks is built; therefore, we have ' presented mitigation recommendations should the Federal permitting agencies approve Two Forks. ' Mitigation Costs One reviewer recommended that the costs of mitigation be included in this report. The Corps and Forest Service are responsible for developing mitigation cost information. ' Wetlands Several reviewers commented on the wetland area figure of 253 acres impacted which was contained in the December 1986 draft of this report. The project proponent also-questioned the recommendation of 2.:1 replacement ratio. The Corps has reanalyzed the wetland acres lost due to Two Forks and has revised the acres lost to 298.5. We have accepted the Corps' revised figure. Definitive information utilizing habitat analysis methodologies was ' not available to supplement or further substantiate the evaluation. However, in our judgment, the impacted area contains high valued wetland habitats which should be replaced on a 2:1 basis. We also have recommended an alternative using a habitat-based analysis to ensure full replacement of existing inkind habitat values (regardless of acreage requirements).