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Response to DMG Cultural comment: <br />No response required. <br />Response to DMG Vegetation. Soils. and Wildlife comments: <br />On August 17, 1993, Greystone performed a Threatened and Endangered Species survey <br />for a species which is a potential candidate for official listing as a threatened or <br />endangered species, Penstemon mensarum. During the summer of 1993, MCC estimated <br />areas to survey which were to be developed within the next fifteen months. The plans for <br />Area 3 from that survey changed, and the disturbance acreage was increased. As a result, <br />not all of the area to be disturbed by the Materials Storage Bench was physically surveyed. <br />Grand Mesa penstemon has not been observed in any vegetation surveys performed at the <br />mine. This includes the surveys in the Lone Pine Gulch area, which is at nearly the same <br />elevation as the Material Storage Bench. A significant conclusion the principle investigator <br />made during this survey was, "No plants of Penstemon mensarum were observed in the <br />survey area. The area is entirely below the known elevational limits for this species and is <br />largely too densely vegetated with brush to provide suitable habitat.... If the site were <br />several thousand feet higher, some disturbance might even benefit the species by providing <br />disturbed sites to colonize. Any additional survey work for the species on this site would <br />be a waste of time and resources." <br />These survey findings were provided to the Division in the Minor Revision No. 122 <br />application. The potential habitat elevation range has been listed as 7200' to 9500'. The <br />material storage bench and associated disturbance is proposed to occur between 6290' and <br />6568' in elevation. In addition, the plant has been historically found on sandy loam, and <br />the site has been characterized as a clay loam. Thus, it would seem reasonable that the <br />species is not likely to be present in the proposed disturbance area that was not physically <br />surveyed. <br />Although not obligated to do so, MCC will reclaim this pre-existing road back to the <br />approximate original contour in accordance with the approved plan. The road may be <br />converted to a ditch to convey water from an undisturbed area to Sylvester Gulch. Should <br />this be the case, the Division will be forwarded plans and designs for review and approval. <br />3. No response required. <br />4. No response required. <br />2 <br />