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' 07v/roninental a EngMeering <br />swpart for, <br />June 13;•2006 t .. <br />Trarmapartathm <br />Mr: Berhan Keffelew <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and.Geology ` <br />1313 Sherman St.":.' t. <br />Denver,.CO 80203-• • ' x <br />Re :Turnpike NilM'ing Resource. , <br />Dear Mr..Keffelew: - <br />Thisletter is aresponse to Colorado Division of Wildlife' comments-dated <br />August 7,1005'-.-A. lthough the current application before the Division of Minerals and <br />Geology,. is • for additional, mining within an already permitted area-(by both Weld County <br />and the State of Colorado), the'CDOW. addressed the entire permit area:' The CDOW's <br />comments focused on- suggestions•to minimize negative impacts afid,maxn?izing open <br />areas for -use as,,wildlifeLhabitat.',The. following paragraphs address each of the CDOW's <br />comments in the same'order Shat they. are presented in the August Tletter: Also please <br />note that existing Wildlife . resources on'the'site are discussed in Exhibii H of Asphalt <br />Specialties app hcationfto :the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG).' <br />The.CDOW re'oinmends'preserving;existing cottonwood trees and riparian habitat <br />associated with ElAidei-'Creek: , No rninirig will take place within 100 feet of the creek. <br />All treesmithiri 1:00 4feet;will be preserved. Trees more than 100 -feet from Boulder Creek <br />will be taken down during• mh'nn' g. Boulder Creek'through the permit area was <br />channelized some ytime ago. Asia result the banks are 'steep and .the riparian corridor is <br />narrow.. • Mining'will not affect riparian habitat except at the'low water crossing for the <br />hiul road. Once mining is` complete, disturbed areas associated with the low water• _ <br />crossing will -be restor'ed'to premining conditions in accordance with Asphalt Specialties <br />Co.; Ind.'s Section-40.4 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: <br />The CDOW lists ii dumber of v ld life 'speci es. likely.to be using the site.and therefore <br />likely to be affected by mining activities. Our observations are that black- tailed prairie <br />dogs (C ynomys .,ludopicianus),are present throughout the:permit area._ Red - tailed hawks <br />(Buteo jamalcensis) -,and'bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perch`in,trees on the site <br />and -prey on the prairie dogs. However, no raptor nests -were observed'in the permit area. <br />We agree with -tile ,CDO?W that other predators such as coyotes (Canis "latrans), red foxes <br />(V, ulp'es vulpes} and raccoons ((Procyon lotor) are also likely` to use the. site. as are mule <br />deer (Odocoilei&!hemioiiu ).' :W. ,aterfowl and wading birds were ob_ served using Boulder <br />Creek. ' <br />The CDOW ;indicates bald eagles roost in cottonwoods.on the site. It is not clear what <br />they mean by the'Word:,`ioost ". -As stated above, bald eagles_ do use,trees on the site for <br />1, Avenue. 5trke 2)1, tangrf1cm Cil WWI . <br />�' <br />sit, 3a3-53LLOWI fax 303 - DSW <br />