REV00894 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

..- .~ ~ ~4VgNT OF TN F y$ o~ y~NCn ~ ~°~ United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Ecological Services 764 Horizon Drive, Building B Grand Junction, Colorado 81506-3946 M REPLY REFER TO: ES/CO:FWS/HCP MS 65412 GJ August 3, 2000 Mr. James E. Lockhart Sierra Club-Pikes Peak Group 1718 Lorraine Sheet, Apartment B4 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906 Dear D4r. L^ckh.rt: Ill Illlflllllllllll RECEIVED JUN 15 2001 Division of Minerals and CeoloyY This letter responds to questions and comments in your June 21, 2000, letter regarding the Red Canyon Quarry. Fvst, you asked if there was correspondence accomppanying the map sent to the Colorado State Land Board that was intended to go with the January 29, 1999, letter. No correspondence was sent with the map, it was faxed to the Land Board after a verbal request via the telephone. Your second concern was regarding leaving an undisturbed corridor along Red Creek if the Service agreed that mining could occur in the southwestern quarter~rior to a home range study of the owls. The Service met with the Quarry operators on May 15 , 2000, and discussed mirung in the southwestern quarter. The outcome of the meeting was that the Service concluded that one forty acre parcel could be mined in the southwest quarter prior to completion of a home range study and that mtnutg would not occur below 7,500 feet along the Red Creek drainage. The exceptton would be an access road across Red Creek. The Quarry operators agreed to this conditional mining plan. They also agreed to not conduct any blasting from dusk to daylight. Furthermore, they agreed to conduct future monitoring of nesting and foraging activities (a home range study) with intent to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan rf momtonng of the owls prove it to be necessary. Other concerns of yours were mining up to 40 acres at a time versus the Colorado Division of Wildlife's recommendation for 12 acres at a time, what type of reclamation will occur, and other nighttime activities that aze appazently occurring. The Service will discuss all these issues with the Quarry operators before and after completron of the home range study in anticipation of obtaining a clearer indication of habitat use and how mining activities and current reclamation procedures may impact that use. If the Service can be of further assistance, please contact Terry Ireland at the letterhead address or (970)243-2778. Sincerely, ~~~ Allan R. Pfister Assistant Colorado Field Supervisor This is your future. Don't leave it blank. -Support the 2000 Census.