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SEP-26 00 c1:52 FROr1:CD0W • 303-4?.-9742 STATE Of COLORADO 8111 Owens, Govemw OEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE as EQ~ oppoarunm rrtvl.orEa Russell George. Director 6060 BroaOway Denver, Cawado 60216 Telephone: (30~) 287-7182 September 26, 2000 Cazl Mount Division of Minerals & Geology 1313 Shertnatt Street Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Aggregate Industries, Inc., Millken Site, File No. M-2000-087 Dear Mr. Mount: T0:~38328106 PAGE:02 For ~ldfije- Fur Pruple The following corutitute the commen[s of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Mike Sherman (Field Habitat Biologist) and Courtney Crawford (District Wildlife Manager) have both reviewed this Reclamation Permit Application Consideration and made a field visit to the proposed mine site on September 13, 2000. We are concerned that the Droposed trtitv_n~,~lan for area 1 (13.1 acres located at the southwest corner of the property) has a high potential to negatively impact wildlife and ht~h duality wildlife habitat. Note that this exact area alone the South Platte River is a known Bald Eagle Roost Site. We strong recommend that mining in this Area occur outside the 100-yeaz flooilvlain and thus be limited to northern most half ot'this area and consistin~pproKitnately 5-6 acres See attached trap designating the portion of Area 1 we recommend remain undrsturbed. The southern end of Area 1 occurs within the 100-year tloodplain and u intended as a `tivetland bench" according to the reclamation plan. We believe that the existing ntunerous mature, large eoaonwood trees and accompanying downfall present in the southern half of Area L are at this tithe more valuable to wildlife, especially Bald Eagles, than the intended post-mining land use. Considering the total acreage in the permit azea is 205.2 acres, we do not feel that excluding this 7-8 acre parcel will be a large `sacrifice' to the applicant. The applicant's mining plan avoids such mature cottonwood tree stands along the South Platte River's floodplain tiuther upstream towards the northeast of Area 1 and we highly commend those efforts. These trees provide valuable wildlife habitat on the site including perches for roosting raptors and cover for songbird, deer, rabbits, fox, coyote, skunks, raccoon, amphibiatts, and reptiles as well as a movement corridor for terrestrial wildlife. It is critical to maintain an open movement condor for wildlife in this azea along the South Platte River drainage and limiting mining operations to outside the 100 year floodplain will allow the continued existence of this corridor. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. Gre{1 E. Walther, E+ecutne Dvector WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Bernard L. Black. Jr.. Cha'uman .Rick Enshom. Vira~Chanman • Phdp James. Secretary Members. Tom BuAre • Mark LeVeaav . Marianne RaOaooulos Robert Shoemaker . OIMca vaklez