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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />7373 Sherman 6t., Room 275 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (3031 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8706 <br />DATE: January 11, 2005 <br />TO: Tom Schreiner <br />/ - //--a S <br />FROM: Gregg Squire <br />RE: Wildlife Objections and Issues for the MMRR Quarry Application, Permit <br />M-2004-067 <br />The Division has reviewed the Objector's comments pertaining to the MMRR Quarry <br />application and has the following responses: <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION O F <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />RECIANATION•NINING <br />SA FETY•SGIENCE <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br />Greg E. Walther <br />Executive Director <br />Ronald W. Cattany <br />Division Director <br />Natural Resource Trustee <br />1) Mr. Jock Waldo refers to the location of the quarry in prime winter elk habitat, and the <br />Jefferson Conservation District of the NRCS notes "The Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />Natural Diversity Information Source maps, available online, indicate the presence of <br />an elk wintering area along the section line between sections 26 and 23. Some impact <br />on the grazing habits may occur, and force them to over-utilize other areas." An <br />examination of the Diversity map referenced by the Jefferson District of the NRCS <br />shows an area of approximately 30 square miles considered to be an American Elk <br />Winter Concentration area. This concentration area appears to begin just to the north of <br />the proposed quarry but the quarry is apparently not within the concentration area. <br />Also, because of the southwest aspect of the proposed quarry area, the steepness of <br />the terrain, and the very shallow soil layer over the bedrock, there is a very sparse <br />vegetative cover within the proposed quarry area. It is the Division's opinion that there . <br />would be a minimal impact on the wintering elk's forage base. A copy of the Winter <br />Concentration map is attached. <br />2) The Douglas Mountain Resident's Association (DMRA) comments that " A detailed site- <br />specific inventory of wildlife and vegetation is required for the facility as part of the <br />application." The Minerals Rules and Regulations for the Extraction of Construction <br />Materials (the Rules) Rule 6.4.8 Exhibit H -Wildlife Information states (1) ..... "The <br />Operator/Applicant shall include in this Exhibit, a description of the game and non- <br />game resources on and in the vicinity of the application area including......". The rules <br />do not specifically state that a detailed site specific inventory of wildlife is required. It <br />appears that the description presented by the applicant is accurate considering the <br />habitat types which the Division is familiar with in this general area. The DMRA a{so <br />states that the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) should also be consulted on this <br />matter. The Rules, Section 6.4.8 (1) state that "In developing the wildlife information, <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey <br />