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11/17/03 MON 17:02 FA% 9709631012 <br />SOPRIS RD <br />STATE OF COLORAbO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPpRNNITY EMPLOYER <br />Russell George, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303)297-1192 <br />I~OV 1 ~ ~~03 <br />November , 2003 <br />Margaret Dowd, Acting Sopris District Ranger <br />U.S. Forest Service <br />P.O. Box 309 <br />Cazbondale, Colorado 81623 <br />Re: White Banks Alabaster Mine Mitigation Measures and Terms anal Conditions <br />Dear Ms.'Dowd: <br />For Wildl:fe- <br />ForPeople <br />My staff has reviewed this proposal from the White Banks Alabaster Mine to conduct mining operations on a <br />temporary, yeaz-round basis. The mine lies directly adjacent to a bighorn sheep winter concentration area on the <br />northwest and severe winterrange/winter concentration area for elk. In addition, mule deer and turkey also utilize <br />the area throughout the winter months as well. Previous mitigation measures, as set forth in the 1995 <br />Environmental Assessment, included a seasonal winter closure of the area to dogs and mining activity from <br />November IS'" through April 30's, a bear proof gazbage dumpster, revegetation of disturbed soils and limiting <br />operations to the daily period of %z hour after sunrise to %, hour before sunset. <br />In' addition tb tliese'ezistiug'indasuios,"the'Forest" Service fiefs suggested the following wildlife mitigation'' measures <br />be implemented as cbnditions~for extending~the mining operations frdm~Noverliber l5'sthrpugh May 1~: <br />1. Fencing on the south end of the mine site is to be laid down November 15°i through May 1". ' <br />2. Any dog owned by mine operators, employees, or contractors must be leashed or kept in buildings from <br />May 1•` through November 15s' annually. Outside this time period, all dogs are to be removed from the <br />permit area. <br />3. Monitoring disturbance from blasting and surface operations will be conducted by USFS-and CDOW <br />during the period of November 15"' to May 1"to quantify effects to wildlife during this new period of <br />operations. A monitoring report will be prepazed iterriizing documented impacts observed and <br />recommendations for yeaz-azound operations. <br />4. Any proposal for additional fencing will be coordinated with CROW before implementation. <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife is to be consulted on any additional operations proposed under this <br />special use permit. <br />As we understand the discussions between the.United State Forest Service and the mine operator to date, all parties <br />are in agreementthat winter mining operations will be allowed for the viinter of 2003-2004 provided that <br />conditions and temts of the extension are meti After this one year trial period, a discussion between the parties will <br />OEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg E. Walchei, Execufive Director <br />W ILDLIFE COMMISSION, Rick Enstrom, Chair • Philip James, Yce-Chair • Olive Valdez, Secretary <br />Members, Bernard Black • Tom Burke • Jeffrey Crawford .Bed Phelps • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Tortes <br />Ex-Officio Members, Greg E. W alcher and Don Ament <br />