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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bruce McCbskey, Director `~ Y atn,s ~ ~~~~~tI~ telephone: {3«i) 297-1192 13 October 2005 ~,...,, ^ ' ~~. Jim Burnell ~ ~o~ Division of Minerals and Geology ~Gj 2 1313 Shennan St. Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 otN"^0`B~°°.aG~Y Re: Kiewit Mining Group, Inc. Exploration Permit Deaz Mr. Burnell: For llrldlife- ForPeopk Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Kiewit mining exploration permit. This response is in reference to your review request for the applicant's exploration and reclamation plan for the proposed exploration sites in Elbert County. The site of your exploration is idemiSed as Township 7 South, Range 58 West, Section 31; Township 8 South, Range S8 West, Sections 5, 9, 16, 21, 28, & 33; Township 9 South, Range S8 West, Sections S, 7, & 17; and Township 8 South, Range 59 West, Section 1 of the 6's Principal Meridian, County of Elbert, State of Colorado. The exploration will occur on approximately S.S acres of land surface. The exploration will incorporate a total of 31 drill holes and will take place over a period of 1-2 days per drill site. Each drill site will have an impacted area of 50' radius azound the drill hole. Previously established two tracks will be utilized for travel between drill sites where available. After the dri-ling occurs the drill hole will be refilled with bentonite and reseeded. Your proposed exploration site is primarily shortgrass prairie habitat type. This habitat type typicatly supports approximately 126 wildlife species in Colorado, potentially including 3 threatened and endangered species, and I 1 species of special concern. Godfrey Gulch, East Godfrey Gulch, and East Bijou Creek and their tributaries run through the area of your exploration site. These cottonwood-willow riparian areas below 6,000 ft. in elevation are the most species diverse habitat type in Colorado. This riparian lowland habitat typically supports approximately 302 wildlife species in Colorado, potentially including 5 threatened and endangered species, and 8 species of special concern. One half of Colorado's birds are permanent or part-time residents of this type of riparian ecosystem. While riparian areas cover only 3 percent of the total landmass in Colorado, they provide habitat to over 90 percent of the state's wildlife at some phase in life. These areas serve as both permanent habitat and as movement corridors from one habitat type to another. During a site visit in late July Division staff observed signs of breeding raptors in the area of the project site. Swift fox are also known in the area of the project site. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russel George, Executive [Arectior WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Je1Gey Crav~ford, Chau • Tom Burke, Vice Chair. Ken Torres, Secrehary Members, Robert Bray • Rids Errstrom • Phip James • Claire O'Neal .Richard Ray • Robert Shoemaker Ex Ofirio Members, Russel George and Don AmeM