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<br />Ms. Lemay <br />November 12, 1997 <br />Page Five <br /> <br />for control of noxious weeds during or after the reclamation process. These <br />could gain a foothold as a result of gravel operations. We are requesting a <br />survey of the entire azea, since there is a strong possibility this is the home <br />of the Mesa Verde cactus, an endangered species of plant life. <br />- Climate Information. The description of the climatic conditions of the <br />proposed gravel site is insufficient. Our area's driest season occurs at the <br />peak season for mining, the summer months when road construction is <br />most common. Our area experiences temperature extremes, has a short <br />growing season, is often dry and windy during the peak operation summer <br />months, and receives less than 15" of precipitation a yeaz. Cactuses are <br />common in this area. With this type of climate, dust suppression and <br />reclamation aze very difficult to achieve without an adequate plan and <br />sustained reclamation effort. We feel that the Applicant has failed to <br />adequately prepare such plans. <br />- Impact on Wildlife. Mr. Stone's description of Wildlife Information is <br />insuflcient. It is most significant that threatened or endangered bird <br />populations regularly utilize this space as their winter hunting ground. <br />Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Great Horned Owls and Ferruginous hawks <br />routinely hunt this land every winter. In addition to being essential <br />additions to America's wildlife, they also help control rodent populations, <br />an important consideration in an azea that is plagued by the threat of <br />Hantivirus caused by rodent droppings. If this Application is approved, we <br />request that all mining operations on this land cease in the winter hunting <br />season from between November and March. <br />There is indication that a reptile on the Colorado Threatened Species <br />list is a resident of the land in question. The large Western Colorado <br />Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus c. auriceps) called locally the `Green <br />Mountain Boomer" is reported to have been sighted on the land in <br />question. <br />- Re-Seeding. The Reclamation Plan only provides for re-seeding following <br />grading, but no mention is made of any obligation to actually grow a soil <br />stabilizing cover. This is not aperformance-based plan. The Applicant <br />should be required to commit to actually re-establishing a plant cover, even <br />