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COLORADO <br />A's Parks and Wildlife <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />PO Box 775777 • Steamboat Springs <br />(970) 871-2855 • (970) 871-2853 <br />wildlife.state.co.us • parks.state.co.u: <br />May 2, 2016 <br />Routt County Planning Department <br />PO Box 773749 <br />Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 <br />Re: PL -16-23 <br />Dear Mr. Goldich, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Amendment to the Special Use Permit for the 9 East <br />utility borehole and associated roads. <br />The following is Colorado Parks and Wildlife's (CPW) understanding of the proposed events on the <br />property. <br />The construction includes the addition of: <br />o A drill -pad <br />o Drilling and casing of two utility boreholes <br />o Construction of a short power line extension <br />o Use of one of the boreholes to continuously exhaust and monitor atmospheric <br />conditions in the gob and bleeders <br />o Use of one borehole to transfer grout <br />Existing Wildlife Habitat <br />The majority of the habitat on site is sagebrush, pastureland, and mixed brush vegetation types. <br />Wildlife species commonly associated with these habitat types include a variety of bird species including <br />raptors, migratory song birds, elk, deer, pronghorn, and grouse species. Small mammals such as red fox, <br />coyote, skunk, porcupine and raccoon are also found in this habitat. <br />Potential Impacts <br />On April 28, 2016, CPW Staff met with Jerry Nettleton to visit the construction site and discuss potential <br />impacts to Columbian Sharp -tailed Grouse habitat. The proposed construction is barely within the current <br />reproduction buffer zones of 2 Columbian Sharp -tailed Grouse leks. Given the topography, CPW staff <br />does not believe the construction will interfere with the lek activities. <br />CPW staff believes there will be minimal additional disturbances to leks. The proposed drill -pad and <br />power line extension are a minimal distance from an existing gravel road and powerline. CPW staff and <br />Nettleton discussed the potential to minimize off-site noise by constructing topsoil berms. CPW staff <br />recommends that construction and maintenance activities make reasonable efforts to minimize artificial <br />lighting on site. <br />p4 CO�� <br />Bob D. Broscfreid, Director, Cdaado Parks and \5fi(dife •Parks and Wildlife Commission: Robert W. Bray, Chair • Chris Castilian, Vice Chair <br />Jeanne Horne, Secretary • John Hwmrd, Jr. • Bill Kane • Dale Pizel • James Pdbyl • James Vigit • Dean Wingfield • hVchelle Zinm roan • <br />+IA96, <br />