Laserfiche WebLink
10/31!2005 16:06 9709295595 WEST ELK PAGE 05 <br />98% and during fall months it is 96°to. The project wil] not change the distribution or tirse <br />of the prof ect area by elk or mule deer. <br />Lewis's woodpecker - 7n Colorado Lewis's woodpeckers are common up to 7,D00 feet <br />and rater at higher elevations (Andrews and Righter 1992). 'The lower elevation areas of <br />the GNdUG National Forest are within the range of this species. In Colorado, I.cwis's <br />woodpeckers were fattnerly reported breeding primarily in ponderosa pine habitat, but <br />since the 1950's they have expanded their nesting range to cottonwoods associated with <br />stream bottoms and more open plains habitats (Knorr L959). The Colorado Breeding <br />Bad Atlas (Kingery 1998) confirmed breeding in riparian habitats (typically a~ithut sight <br />of pinyonrjwriper woodlands or ponderosa pine stands) and nests were fotutd in dead or <br />decaying cottonwoods. <br />The proposed project lies within reclaimed aakbrush, grass and shrub habitat above 7,000 <br />feet in elevation. The proposed drilling project will not impact suitable breeding habitats <br />(ponderosa pine, or cottonwood riparian areas) therefore, the project will have no effect <br />on Forest-wide populaiions ofLewis's woodpeckers, <br />Colorado River Cutthroat Trout -Colorado River Cutthroat trout do trot occur withut <br />any of the perennial streams that exist within the project area ox region of itr£lvence. <br />Land Use: The project proposal includes no new road constntction. The project proposal <br />lies within the West Etk Tnventoricd Roadless Area. In accordance with Forest Service <br />Irrteriut Directive 1D-1920-2004-1, The GivIL1G completed aForest-wide Roads Analysis <br />Procevs in Junc, 2005, allowing approval of this proposal by the District Ranger. <br />PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. Duc to the critical tentporal need to protect health and <br />htuuan safety by displacing Carbon monoxide in the underground mine, and prevent a <br />potential a thermal event, extensive public involvement was not feasible. <br />ItECLAMA2'IO1Y BONDING: Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology may <br />require additional surface reclamation bonding for the surface disturbing activities in this <br />proposed. <br />The GNtUG has required a Performance Bond as part of tare required Road Use Pertoit <br />for West Elk Min.e's use of cxiating Forest roads, As the proposal includes only the use <br />of roads cw^rently under permit for 1VICC's rue, this amount does not need to be re- <br />calcnlated. <br />V. I+'INDING <br />After review of the original ;r.A and considering the changed circumstances in Saetiorr TT <br />of this document, I find tb at irxrpacts of the proposed drilling are the same as previously <br />documented, aAd therefore no additional environnreutal analysis is needed in order to <br />