2014-03-25_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M2000014

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• wiv COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE Hot Sulphur Springs Service Center • PO Box 216 346 Grand County Road 362 • Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado 80451 Phone (970) 725 -6200 • FAX (970) 725 -6217 cpw.state.co.us March 19, 2014 Peter Hays Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 RECEIVED MAR 1.5 2014 DIVIMINING RECLAMATION AND SAFETY Re: Notice of 110(C) to 112(C) Construction Materials Reclamation Permit Conversion Application Consideration Grand Gravel Pit, LLC, Yust Ranch Gravel Pit, Permit No. M- 2000 -014 Dear Mr. Hays, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Conversion Application for Grand Gravel Pit, LLC. We have reviewed the ocumentation in the application, and District Wildlife Manager Rachel Leiner has spoken with you on the phone regarding the application. This application proposes the expansion of the existing Grand Gravel Pit, LLC because the gravel resources in the existing permitted area have been exhausted. Currently, the land is used for agricultural rangeland. This section of property is situated close to the Blue River near its confluence with the Colorado River and Muddy Creek. The area consists of irrigated hay fields and sagebrush pastures. The existing gravel pit has collected substrate through surface mining. The Yust Ranch is very valuable both agriculturally and as wildlife habitat. The Blue River flowing through the ranch is a valuable source of water for big game, small game mammals, and waterfowl. The sagebrush on the ranch provides a vital source of food for deer during the summer and winter months and the ranch sits in an area designated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) as critical winter range for deer and elk. Pronghorn are frequently seen on the ranch as well. Greater Sage Grouse are found on and surrounding the ranch, and there is an active lek on the ranch. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends restricting mining activities during the spring months to after 9:00 a.m. to avoid disturb displaying birds. Efforts should be made to maintain and reestablish the high agricultural and wildlife values of the Yust Ranch during and after mining. Reclamation efforts that reestablish naturally reseeding native grasses and forbs will allow wildlife to continue to utilize the Yust ranch year - round. STATE OF COLORADO John W. Hickenlooper, Governor • Mike King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources Bob D. Broscheid, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Parks and Wildlife Commission: Robert W. Bray • Chris Castilian, Secretary • Jeanne Home Bill Kane, Chair • Gaspar Perricone • James Pribyl • John Singletary Mark Smith, Vice -Chair • James Vigil • Dean Wingfield • Michelle Zimmerman Ex Officio Members: Mike King and John Salazar