REV04745

• Permit No: C1980004
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 5/8/2006
• Doc Name: Review Letter
• From: Division of Wildlife
• To: DMG
• Type & Sequence: TR15
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
8!I! Owens, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Bruce McCloskey, Director
6060 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80216
Telephone: [phone]
Colorado Division of Minerals & Geology
Attn: Mr. Daniel T. Matthews
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Dear Mr. Matthews,
MA's Or' 1006
p'~am`oo d M`^eca~s a^~ Gads
04-27-2006
For l~ldlife-
For People
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has reviewed the McClane Canyon Mine (Permit No. C-1980-004)
Technical Revision Application No. 15 (TR-15) RN-6 Permit Updates submitted by CAM Mining, LLC. This
update concerns routine renewals of DMG coal mining permits for the McClane Canyon Mine and the
Munger Canyon Mine. Included in the review was the draft Biological Assessment of impacts to
threatened & endangered species prepared by Rare Earth Science, LLC for J.E Stover & Associates, Inc.,
along with a statement of compliance with raptor protection guidelines from Grand Valley Rural Power
Lines, Inc.
The McClave Canyon and Munger Canyon mines both are underground operations, with permitted
surface disturbance areas of 9.5 acres and 17 acres, respectively. The materials submitted for review
state that "no new surface disturbance or significant changes to above ground operations of eithermine
is being proposed with either permit renewal': As such, we concur with the Determinations of Effect
presented in the Biological Assessment and do not anticipate significant changes in wildlife impacts due
to approval of the permit renewals. We do note, however, that increases in coal production at either
mine could affect water depletion from East Salt Creek. Increased depletions are likely to adversely
affect the Colorado River endangered fishes and their designated critical habitat, as well as numerous
species of wildlife reliant on water that persists in the East Salt Creek drainage downstream of the mines.
We have noticed a general increase in deer and elk mortality during the winter months associated
with vehicle traffic along Colo. Hwy 139, particularly involving large trucks. The McClave Wildlife -
Protedion & Control Plan addresses the speed issue, but only as relates to traffic on the permit area. We
request that the proponent give serious consideration to imposing a speed restriction of 45 mph on haul
trucks driving Colo. Hwy 139 between the Mesa/Gartield County line and the mine entrance, a distance of
6 miles. Reducing speeds from December 1-April 1 would decrease the number of wildlife/vehicle
collisions.
The Division of Wildlife thanks you for your willingness to consider the needs of wildlife in the
permitting process. We encourage you to contact Fruita District Wildlife Manager Paul Creeden (970-
250-4501) to schedule a visit. Please contact me by phone at [phone] if you need anything
further.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director
WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Jeffrey Crawford, Chair. Tom Burke, Vice Chair • Claire O'Neal, Secretary
Members, Robert Bray • Rick Enstrom • Philip James • Richard Ray • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Torres
Ex Officio Members, Russell George and Don Ament