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Page 4 of 11 Mining Lease- 110324 <br /> leasable minerals, reaches into the southern portion of the lease area. However, staff includes this area <br /> in the lease for the following reasons: <br /> • Based on preliminary plans received from the applicant, the initial mining area will be outside of <br /> this buffer area and will use existing roads for access <br /> • Staff visited the property and worked with the applicant to ensure that high quality sage brush <br /> habitat is not included in the lease <br /> • Mineral processing equipment will be located in previously disturbed areas <br /> Photograph 5 in Exhibit 1 shows the northeast boundary of the lease where the higher quality sage <br /> brush habitat begins. <br /> The permitting process with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) wilt require <br /> consultation with CPW, where any additional operating requirements will be considered, such as timing <br /> restrictions. To this end, staff recommends the inclusion of a Greater Sage Grouse stipulation in the <br /> lease stating, "This lease falls within the Greater Sage Grouse Priority Habitat Management Area and <br /> may be subject to restricted practices including timing and seasonal restrictions. Lessee shall consult <br /> with Colorado Parks and Wildlife prior to submittal of required permit applications." <br /> All mining leases require State Land Board staff review and approval of mining and reclamation plans <br /> prior to submittal to DRMS. Staff will require the following items to be incorporated in the plans for this <br /> lease: <br /> • Reclamation that meets greater sage grouse habitat needs <br /> • Seed mixes for reclamation that include only native species <br /> • A weed control plan <br /> • Initial permit area to include 10 acres; if expansion of the mining area is warranted at a later <br /> date, staff will review/approve those plans as well <br /> Permitting <br /> State Land Board mining leases provide the right of access to state trust minerals. All mining requires a <br /> special use permit from Moffat County and a reclamation permit from DRMS. At the county's discretion, <br /> special use permit conditions may require a detailed site development plan to address access, <br /> mitigation of traffic impacts, hours of operation, transportation, dust control, noise, weed control, <br /> floodplain, etc. <br /> When considering a permit application, DRMS requires the permit applicant to post a notice at the <br /> proposed access point, notifies surrounding landowners within 500 feet of the proposal, and advises <br /> these landowners of the time and place to comment on the proposal. The permittee must place the <br /> permit application in the county clerk's office and alert others regarding the request. DRMS takes <br /> comments from concerned citizens and other state agencies, and makes decisions appropriate to the <br /> situation. DRMS requires the permit holder to maintain a bond sufficient to complete reclamation of <br /> the site. An operator of a mine must also follow all regulations regarding air emissions and water <br /> quality that are administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> Based on the information provided to the Board at the May 2016 Board Meeting, Staff recommends that <br /> the Board approve the issuance of a mining lease covering 80.91 acres in Moffat County to AuPt <br /> Industries, LLC for a primary term of 5 years, a secondary term of 5 years if minerals are produced in <br /> AViCOLORADO <br /> j sate Lena Board <br /> oePWVM.#« •, .m Page 4 of 5 <br /> 5.12.2016 <br />