2003-01-14_REVISION - M1977342 (3)

Home Browse Search

additional proposed changes in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 herein, Henderson declined the DMG counter-proposal for the present (although the concept of shrub islands on the dry areas of the tailing impoundment has merit and will be considered at a later date) and is proposing to amend the permit accordingly. Henderson is not seeking to eliminate tree planti _ coma t lv. Rather, Henderson is proposing to reduce tree planting significantly, to a documented level compatible with rangeland on the Henderson property. Henderson has conducted commercial logging and thinning operations throughout its properties in the Williams Fork Valley for more than 20 years. These operations have been conducted in close consultation with the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS} and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS} to: 1) remove timber in the tailings basin to facilitate growth media salvage and tailings deposition; 2) develop commercial timber sales; 3) maintain fire control; and 4) and control dwarf mistletoe the rapidly increasing Mountain Pine Beetle outbreaks in the valley. As part of these timber management operations, Henderson, through its professional contractor (Western Bionomics), developed a Forest Management Plan (FMP) approved by the CSFS (Granhy, Colorado office} in 2002. The FMP included significant quantitative assessments of more than a dozen forest and forest/range strata within Henderson property in the Williams Fork Valley. Most relevant to Henderson's request to change the general post-mining land use from "Open Forest" to "Rangeland" are the data in the FMP from Strata 12. Strata 12 aze those areas where Lodgepole Pine tracts were cleaz-cut approximately 20 years or more ago and have persisted at a natural stocking rate of about 40 - 50 trees per acre. Regarding these sites, the FMP states "Dense mats of grasses and foebs on these sites will persist indefinitely.... "and "Generally, stocking levels are less than SO trees per acre.. " Photos included in the FMP and attached as Figures 1 and Z, clearly show excellent open rangeland habitats with ]odgepole pine scattered throughout. Based on these data, Henderson is proposing to change the general post-mining land use throughout the affected areas to "Rangeland" with lodgepole pine or shrub plantings at a rate of 50 per acre scattered randomly, or in random groups, throughout each acre. All other elements of the original Plan, including amendments, seed and seeding rates, and sequences remain unchanged. 2.3 Change of Post-mining Land 17se at the Mine Site -Building Retention Henderson has entered into discussions with Clear Creek Courny regarding potential use of the mine site by the county following termination of mining and closure of the site. The county has expressed interest in having two structures maintained for future use in long-range commercial planning. Specifically, these buildings are: 1) the surface shop/warehouse, and 2) the office building. These two buildings are of interest because each has potable water and sewage systems, electricity, natural gas, and fiber optic systems. In addition, building infrastructure such as roads, b