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iIH r ~ ~o I H!i Z ._. _ _. D.. FJ F _ rS+ 1 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br /> <br />Roy Romer, Governor REFER TO <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF VViL~LIFE vow°~o <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY E\1PLOYER ' <br /> <br />Perry D. Olson, Director •Sy <br />y <br />r r <br />6060 Broadway O <br /> <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 A. <br />f r ~Fi <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br /> For Wildlife - <br /> For People <br />May 2, 1996 <br />The Whitewood Geological Group, Inc. <br />ATTN: Rick Tift <br />P.O. Box 881215 <br />Steamboat Springs, CO 80488 <br />RE: Review of Modification of N.O.I. # X-96-219-00 <br />Dear Mr. Tift; <br />The following comments are in regard to possible wildlife impacts <br />from proposed drilling activity outlined in N.O.I. # X-96-219-00. <br />As I understand the modification to the original permit will add a <br />number of new drill sites as well as encompass a longer time frame. <br />In the area outlined in the proposal I am not aware of any critical <br />habitats for any state or federal threatened or endangered species. <br />Wildlife species of special interest or concern in this area would <br />include Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Elk. Some of the test <br />sites you have proposed are in or near areas of critical habitat <br />for those species. <br />All drill sites except PDH- 4,11,12,13, and 14 are located in areas <br />identified as elk winter range. The largest elk concentrations in <br />those areas can be expected to occur from mid-October through the <br />winter months. The expected effect of the proposed activity on elic <br />in these locations would be to cause a temporary shift of use and <br />shouldn't be a major concern. Scheduling of exploratory activities <br />in these areas from spring through fall would help minimize any <br />disturbance that may occur as a result of drilling. <br />Site PDH-15 is within 1/4 mile of an active sharp-tailed grouse lek <br />(breeding complex). Sites 17 and 2 are also areas of suspected <br />breeding activity for this specie. Birds occupy lek sites from late <br />March through May. Most nesting activity occurs in suitable <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, James S. Lochhead, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Thomas M. Eve, Chairman • Louis F. Svrift, Vice-Chairman • Arnuld Salazar, Secretary <br />Jessa Langston Boyd, Jr., Member • Rebecca L. Frank, Member <br />William R. Hegberg, Member • Mark LeValley, Member • John D. Fuller 5r., Member <br />