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2005-03-01_REVISION - M1978314
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2005-03-01_REVISION - M1978314
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Last modified
6/15/2021 6:05:59 PM
Creation date
11/22/2007 1:27:12 AM
Metadata
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Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
M1978314
IBM Index Class Name
Revision
Doc Date
3/1/2005
Doc Name
Response to Adequacy Review #2
From
Banks and Gesso LLC
To
DMG
Type & Sequence
CN1
Media Type
D
Archive
No
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found on Five Pines Mesa and in Egeria Park. The study has highlighted the importance this area has in <br />providing yeaz-round sage-grouse habitat. <br />CDOW lek monitoring and WRIS data show that the proposed King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine is located <br />towards the center of the critical Greater Sage-Grouse production areas on Five Pines Mesa. <br />POTENTIAL IMPACTS: <br />GENERAL COMMENTS: <br />You are proposing a large increase in pit size and production. The proposed activity will result in habitat loss and <br />reduced habitat value in the mined area. This loss and reduction in value will also likely extend to those habitats <br />located in close proximity to and within the created disturbance zone of the proposed operation. The increase in <br />scale of operation will result in habitat fragmentation in this area. However, we feel that on a landscape scale the <br />proposed activity is not likely to result in long-term negative impacts for the majority of wildlife species found near <br />the proposed project. For example, most species including elk and mule deer will likely adapt to the disturbance <br />created by the proposed activity by dispersing to adjacent habitats. However, the proposed pit expansion will likely <br />result in significant impacts to grouse populations and their habitat. The activity proposed by King Mountain Sand <br />& Gravel Mine will result in the loss of valuable sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse habitat located on the <br />property. The proposed operations will also likely result in reduced habitat value and potential habitat loss for <br />critical Greater Sage-Grouse and Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse habitats located close to and within the created <br />disturbance zone of the proposed operation. While impacts will occur to both Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and <br />Greater Sage-Grouse, we aze most concerned with impacts of the proposed operation to Greater Sage-Grouse. <br />GREATER SAGE-GROUSE: <br />The King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine proposed pit expansion may have the following actual and potential <br />impacts on Greater Sage-Grouse and their habitat in the Five Pines Mesa area: habitat loss and fragmentation, <br />reduction of habitat quality, population decline and associated species persistence concerns, reduced productivity, <br />increased predation, and increase in noxious weeds. Amore detailed analysis follows. <br />The activity proposed by King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine will result in the loss of valuable sage-grouse habitat <br />located on the property as well as loss of habitats located in proximity to and within the created disturbance zone of <br />the proposed operation. The proposed site and its' associated disturbance zone is located entirely within the <br />following critical habitats for Greater Sage-Grouse: breeding habitat and production areas (leks/strutting grounds, <br />prelaying habitat, nesting habitat, early brood-rearing habitat, and summer late brood-rearing habitat), summer <br />range, transition range and winter range. Loss of these valuable habitats could potentially result in significant <br />deterioration of the Greater Sage-Grouse population in South Routt County. Furthermore, reduction in habitat <br />availability and population decline could result in the population being more sensitive and vulnerable to natural <br />processes like drought and West Nile Virus resulting in an accelerated rate of population decline. <br />The current population for Greater Sage-Grouse in Southern Routt and Northern Eagle Counties is believed to be <br />somewhere between 300-450 birds. CDOW data indicates the Greater Sage-Grouse population in Southern Routt <br />and Northern Eagle Counties has declined since the late 1950s. We are concerned that this decline will continue. <br />Further reduction in sage-grouse numbers will seriously compromise the long-term viability of the Greater Sage- <br />Grouse in Southern Routt and Northern Eagle Counties. Therefore, the protection of critical Greater Sage-Grouse <br />habitats is an essential component to ensuring the survival of Greater Sage-Grouse in South Routt County. <br />Because the Greater Sage-Grouse population in Southern Routt and Northern Eagle Counties is a small and <br />relatively isolated population, the population has an increased vulnerability to long-term loss of habitat and a <br />greater susceptibility for localized extirpation. <br />While you are proposing that the mining operation will occur in four separate phases and only include 184 acres of <br />the total 341 acres with no more than 67 acres being disturbed at any given time, there is a broader zone of <br />disturbance. Greater Sage-Grouse aze vulnerable to disturbance, particulazly nesting hens. Greater Sage-Grouse <br />have a low nest success rate. If the hen is disturbed, nest abandonment is not uncommon. Greater Sage-Grouse <br />
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