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• <br />-10- <br />4. Within 2 months after the submission of the above requested <br />vegetative information required in special stipulations 3, the <br />applicant shall provide to the regulatory authority a detailed <br />description of methodologies and criteria used in establishing new <br />calving areas. The applicant must also provide with this submittal <br />a detailed description of a monitoring program to evaluate the <br />success of the new calving area. <br />5. Six months after approval, the applicant shall submit for <br />approval of the regulatory authority, a narrative of the techniques <br />and devices to be used to establish the necessary watering areas <br />for elk. The plan shall also include a map showing the location of <br />the watering area in relation to elk calving grounds. <br />6. Every 6 months for the life of the mine, the applicant shall <br />provide data collected during elk monitoring programs to the <br />regulatory authority. If it becomes apparent through monitoring of <br />elk movement that haul roads are interfering with migration of the <br />elk, the applicant shall use fencing approved by the regulatory <br />authority. The fencing shall be employed to minimize impacts of <br />roads during migration periods. <br />7. If any adverse impacts to fish or wi]dlife are discovered <br />during the proposed monitoring programs, the applicant must, in <br />consultation with regulatory authority, take appropriate measures <br />to mitigate the impacts. <br />All six stipulations have been responded to. <br />As required by MLRD stipulation 3 an inspection of the sage grouse ]ek <br />area was conducted with all representatives except the OSM. The lek <br />identified in the permit as a sage grouse lek was reidentified by Clait <br />Braun of the DOW as a sharp tail grouse strutting ground. It was also <br />determined during the joint inspection that little of the habitat in <br />Eckman Park is suitable for sage grouse. Therefore, no additional action <br />is required by the applicant. <br />The data submitted in response to OSM stipulation 3 showed no significant <br />differences in elk calving ground aspen communities on soil types 8D and <br />70 with respect to cover, productivity and diversity. <br />In response to OSM stipulation 4, the operator conducted an extensive <br />study of elk calving in the adjacent areas. Results of the study showed <br />that the area used by calving elk was much larger than originally <br />thought. Therefore, rather than establishing new calving areas, an <br />extensive monitoring program was implemented by the applicant in <br />cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to study elk calving <br />behavior in the area. The monitoring program is detailed in a July 1, <br />19II0 letter form Jack R. Grieb to Marvin Pearson. CYCC is continuing <br />with the monitoring program and submitting annual reports. <br />