PERMFILE58779

• Permit No: M2004067
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 1/11/2005
• Doc Name: Wildlife Objections and Issues
• From: DMG-grs
• To: DMG-tas
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
DATE: January 11, 2005
TO: Tom Schreiner
FROM: Gregg Squire ~ ~2~ / ~/--~ S
RE: Wildlife Objections and Issues f r the MMRR Quarry Application, Permit
M-2004-067 ~-~
The Division has reviewed the Objector's comments pertaining to the MMRR Quarry
application and has the following responses:
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
MIN SRALS
GEOLOGY
RFCLAMATION•MIN ING
SAFETY•SCIEN CE
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walther
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
1) Mr. Jock Waldo refers to the location of the quarry in prime winter elk habitat, and the
Jefferson Conservation District of the NRCS notes "The Colorado Division of Wildlife
Natural Diversity Information Source maps, available online, indicate the presence of
an elk wintering area along the section line between sections 26 and 23. Some impact
on the grazing habits may occur, and force them to over-utilize other areas." An
examination of the Diversity map referenced by the Jefferson District of the NRCS
shows an area of approximately 30 square miles considered to be an American Elk
Winter Concentration area. This concentration area appears to begin just to the north of
the proposed quarry but the quarry is apparently not within the concentration area.
Also, because of the southwest aspect of the proposed quarry area, the steepness of
the terrain, and the very shallow soil layer over the bedrock, there is a very sparse
vegetative cover within the proposed quarry area. It is the Division's opinion that there
would be a minimal impact on the wintering elk's forage base. A copy of the Winter
Concentration map is attached.
2) The Douglas Mountain Resident's Association (DMRA) comments that " A detailed site-
specific inventory of wildlife and vegetation is required for the facility as part of the
application." The Minerals Rules and Regulations for the Extraction of Construction
Materials (the Rules) Rule 6.4.8 Exhibit H -Wildlife Information states (1) ..... "The
Operator/Applicant shall include in this Exhibit, a description of the game and non-
game resources on and in the vicinity of the application area including......". The rules
do not specifically state that a detailed site specific inventory of wildlife is required. It
appears that the description presented by the applicant is accurate considering the
habitat types which the Division is familiar with in this general area. The DMRA also
states that the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) should also be consulted on this
matter. The Rules, Section 6.4.8 (1) state that "In developing the wildlife information,
Office of Office of Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey