2015-03-23_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M2015008

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COLORADO Parks and Wildlife M Department of Natural Resources Hot Sulphur Springs Service Center PO BOX 216 1 346 Grand County Road 362 Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado 80451 P 970.725.6200 1 F 970.725.6217 March 19, 2015 �(D Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Attn: Peter Hays 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 RECEIVED 4t1AR 1 b 2015 DIVISION OF RECLAMATION MINING AND SAFETY Re: Notice of Special 111 Construction Materials Reclamation Permit Application Consideration Kirkland Construction, L.L.L.P., Blue Valley Pit, File No. M- 2015 -008 Dear Mr. Hays, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed project by Kirkland Construction for gravel extraction, crushing, and processing aggregates, mixing of asphaltic concrete, mixing of Portland cement concrete, roadway embankment material, and general construction staging on Blue Valley Ranch Property for the State Highway 9 Project. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has a statutory responsibility to manage all wildlife species in Colorado; this responsibility is embraced and fulfilled through CPW's mission to protect, preserve, enhance, and manage the wildlife of Colorado for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of the State and its visitors. CPW has reviewed the proposal and would like to offer the following comments. Wildlife Biologist Michelle Cowardin and I visited the site on January 26, 2015, and we have reviewed all documents provided by Kirkland Construction. Currently the parcel is used for agricultural rangeland and wildlife habitat. The parcel sits on a terrace above the Blue River adjacent to State Highway 9. The landscape is covered with grasses, forbs, and sagebrush. This area has high wildlife values and serves as summer range for mule deer, pronghorn, and is within winter range for deer and elk. Every effort should be made to reestablish the habitat values upon completion of the Highway 9 Project and reclamation of the pit. The entire parcel lies within 0.6 miles of an established greater sage - grouse breeding area (lek) that is located on the east side of Highway 9. Leks are specific locations where males and females gather to breed from the middle of March through the middle of May. The natural topography between the proposed parcel for the pit and the Lek appears to shield the Lek from line -of -sight disturbance and will provide some noise protection for the lek. The project is proposed to occur over two breeding seasons, so this short duration of the project in conjunction with the natural topographic shielding of the lek from disturbances should lessen the potential impacts to the sage - grouse Lek from the activities of the pit. To mitigate impacts to greater sage - grouse, CPW recommends the following activities take place away from the southern extent of the parcel to maximize the topographic interference between the pit and the lek: crushing, screening, washing, Hot Mix Asphaltic Concrete "Hot" Plant, Ready Bob D. Broscheid, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife • Parks and Wildlife Commission: Robert W. Bray, Chair • Chris Castilian, Vice Chair�r Jeanne Home, Secretary • John Howard, Jr. • Bill Kane • Dale Pizel • James Pribyl • James Vigil • Dean Wingfield • Michelle Zimmerman • Alex Zip ��ft76