2016-12-12_PERMIT FILE - M2016081

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Page 9 of 11 Mining Lease- 110324 Exhibit 3 1 CPW Letter I Page 1 of 2 COLORA O Parks and Wildlife Department of Natural Resources Northwest Regional Office 711Independent Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81505 April 8, 2016 Mr. Phillip Courtney Colorado State Land Board 1127 Sherman Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80203-2206 RE: CPW's comments for Au Pt Industries' LLC Mining Lease (No. 110324) Dear Mr. Courtney: Thank you for giving Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) the opportunity to provide comments for AuPt Industries' LLC proposed mining lease (No. 110324) located in T. 12 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 24, Moffat County. It is CPWs understanding that the applicant has requested authorization to disturb approximately 91 acres to mine the placer minerals that were included in your referral request. We also understand that a formal proposal that describes site-specific activities and construction schedules has not been submitted to the Colorado State Land Board (SLB). in addition to requesting authorization through the SLB's permitting process, the applicant is currently requesting authorization to acquire the proposed mining lease via Moffat County and the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety permitting process. The proposed mine location is mapped as mule deer critical winter range, and it is also within a Priority Habitat Management Area (PHMA) for greater sage-grouse. Moreover, there are 4 known greater sage-grouse leks within approximately 5 miles of the proposed mine, and the site serves as important winter use habitat for greater sage-grouse, deer and antelope. CPW's records indicate that there are 3 occupied greater sage-grouse leks within approximately 5 miles from the proposed mine. Because the information submitted to CPW lacked specific details (e.g., anticipated traffic volumes, plans for dust abatement, waste management, water use, noise estimates, construction and reclamation schedules, etc.), it is premature to assess anticipated impacts to wildlife as a result of mining activities without being speculative. CPW understands that the SLB does not require the applicant submit detailed information during the current permitting phase. As such, CPW is willing to work collaboratively with the applicant and SLB to develop site-specific mitigation that will help reduce impacts to wildlife if the proposed mine is approved. Because of the overall importance of the project area to greater sage- 6t Cpidq` j4. � 7C Bob D.Broscheid,Director,Colorado Parks and Wildlife•Parks and Wildlife Commission:Robert W.Bray•Chris Castilian,Chair•Jeanne Home,Vice-Chair I p4y , gk John Haaard•Bill Kane•Date Ptzel•James Pribyt,Secretary.James Vigil•Dean Wingfield• Michelle Zimmerman•Alex Zipp i•,, „?t,,E 5.12.2016