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11/17/03 ffiON 11:04 FAX 9709631012 sOPRIS RD <br />be held to determine if mining should be allowed to continue in future winter months and if so, are the conditions <br />and terms sufficient to protect the bighorn sheep using the area. The Division looks forward to providing <br />information for your consideration at that time concerning the big hornsheep and the mirvng project. <br />After reviewing the new proposal, my staff concurs with these additional wildlife mitigation measures. However, <br />since there have been no operations allowed between November 15 "' -May 1 s` in the past, my staff also <br />recommends the following mitigation measures to help lessen the potential impacts of yeaz round mining <br />operations in such close proximity to critical bighorn winter range, <br />1. To avoid interfering with bighorn feeding and foraging times and to lessen stress on them, outside mine <br />activity should be limited to between loam and 3pm. This would include trucks picking up the mined <br />material, surface and subsurface blasting and snowplowing. If possible, we would ask to be notified at <br />least one day prior to blasting so that we can observe any impacts to the sheep. <br />While we would still prefer snowplowing to take place between 10-3, we recognize the need to snowplow <br />the site eazly in the morning to gain access and we would have no objections to it being done before lam. <br />2. As a part of the monitoring measures in #3 above, we would offer the use of our historical records and <br />county of bighorn sheepan the azea as a tool to help analyze the impacts, if any, of the mine. <br />3. To the west of the White Banks Alabaster Mine is a site that the Colorado Division of Wildlife has used in <br />the past, as a baithrap site far bighorn sheep. While we're unsure if the mining operations will impact the <br />sheep using this area, it is important far us to provide medication fot these sheep to reduce the potential for <br />pneumonia. We will be baiting this azea this winter and would like this to be a component of the <br />monitoring plan. <br />4.. The cliffs to the northwest of the area aze potential lambing grounds for the bighorn sheep between May <br />and July. This herd has experienced a decrease in lamb production during the past four yeazs. While we <br />believe current plans won't impact lamb production, it is important that future expansion or changes to this <br />plan take this issue into consideration <br />5. Any sick, injured, or otherwise unhealthy looking bighorn sheep, e}k, or mule deer seen within the <br />immediate azea should be reported to the Colorado Division of Wildlife iuunediately for further <br />investigation. <br />6. It would helpful for all concerned if the mine operator, since he is on site, document any bighorn sheep <br />activity within the immediate azea between November 15`a and May 1°`. This information would help <br />analyze the effects, if any, of this extension. If needed, the Division could help develop a concise form <br />with the desired information. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Please contact DWM Justih Martens a>~ (970) 947-2920 if additional <br />information is needed. <br />Sin e , <br />Russ eorge <br />Director <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />cc: DNR-T.Pollazd <br />DOW - J. Smeltzer, R. Velazde, P. Tucker <br />