PERMFILE63101

• Permit No: C2008086
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 6/7/2006
• Doc Name: DOW Meeting Memo
• From: Dan Mathews
• To: File
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
7313 Sherman St., Room 115
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
DIVISION O F
MIN SRALS
GEOLOGY
REC LANATION•NINING
SAf ETY•SCIENCE
Bill Owens
Governor
Russell George
DATE: June 7, 2006 Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
TO: File DivisiGn Direc[Gr
Natural Resource Trustee
FROM: Dan Mathews
RE: CAM Redcliff Proposed Mine Project
This morning I met with Jim Stover, consultant to CAM Mining LLC, and several representatives
of the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW). Primary purpose of the meeting was to view the
project area on the ground and provide an opportunity for informal input from DOW regazding
wildlife concerns and recommendations. Specifically, I thought it was important (for me as well
as Jim Stover) to hear DOWs recommendations regarding potential siting/development
considerations to minimize impacts, as well as possible mitigative measures to be incorporated
into future mining and reclamation plans. DOW staff present were Paul Creeden (Fruita District
Wildlife Manager), his supervisor Dean Riggs (Area Wildlife Manager), Area Terrestrial Biologist
Steph Duckett, and Energy Impact Coordinator Kim Kaal (this is a new DOW position that they
just filled a few months back).
Points of emphasis for DOW include keeping disturbed acreage to the minimum necessary,
avoiding physical disturbance to the high value sagebrush grass habitats on the pediment benches
to the extent possible, and minimizing traffic to the extent possible. The sagebrush grass pediment
benches are important for elk winter forage; mixed juniper and sagebrush habitats on the pediment
benches at slightly higher elevations are appazently important mule deer winter habitat.
Regarding traffic and disturbance acreage, DOW recommended that the operator consider busing
or other alternatives to personal vehicles for transporting mine employees to the site (to minimize
traffic and necessary parking space). This concern might best be addressed at the EIS/ or BLM
surface right of way leasing stage, and DOW indicated that they would make this recommendation
and others to BLM.
The coal waste disposal facility as indicated in preliminary plan maps would disturb a significant
acreage of the sagebrush grassland type that is of particular value as winter elk habitat in the azea;
DOW strongly recommended that alternative plans be developed to minimize disturbance to that
habitat type. Jim Stover said that he thought it would be relatively simple to revise the site plan
for the waste disposal to minimize impact to the sagebrush type, and limit most of the refuse area
disturbance to Mancos derived soils. These areas support salt desert shrub communities that are of
Office of Office of Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation ~ Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey