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y J+ ~ III III III III IIII III <br /> STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Deparlmem of Natural Resources <br />1713 Sherman SL, Room ? 15 <br /> <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 I~~~~ <br />Phone: 1303) 866-3567 <br />F A%.13071 832-B I Ub <br /> DEPARTMENT OF <br /> NATURAL <br />July 26, 1996 RES~LTRCES <br />Mr. Bill de Ver ie <br />g Roy Ramer <br /> <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife Governor <br /> <br />P.O. BOX 40 lames 5. Lochhead <br />ExecwiveDireaor <br />Dinosaur, CO 8161D Micha el8 long <br /> Division Direaoi <br />Re: Deserado Mine <br />File No. C-81-018 <br />Dear Mr. de Vergie: <br />Our office recently conducted a permit review/mine inspection at <br />the Deserado Mine, focusing specifically on the issue of <br />contemporaneous reclamation. One issue pertaining to wildlife <br />monitoring/mitigation was raised during the course of the review. <br />Page IV-56 of the approved permit (enclosed) indicates that, at the <br />time the application was prepared, there was some concern that <br />refuse disposal activities might potentially disrupt pronghorn <br />antelope from travelling between habitat north of the disposal <br />site, and the water source at Cactus Reservoir to the southeast. <br />The application states that "the antelope herd will be monitored <br />either by personnel secured by the applicant or Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife" to determine whether the herd is being cut off from <br />their water supply. <br />As you are probably aware, pronghorn are frequently observed in the <br />immediate vicinity of the refuse disposal area, and seem to have <br />become acclimated to the human activity in the area. Sedimentation <br />ponds at the refuse area contain water during much of the year, and <br />are commonly utilized by the antelope. <br />However, Gordon Bell of Western Fuels-Utah did not recall that a <br />formal monitoring program as implied by the application narrative <br />was ever conducted, and I could find no documentation of such <br />monitoring in our files. <br />The questions we have are: <br />I) Are you aware of any monitoring of antelope travel patterns <br />in the permit area conducted by DOW or the operator, pursuant to <br />the application commitment? If so, what was concluded? <br />2) If you are not aware of any such monitoring, is it your <br />opinion that a formal monitoring plan should still be implemented, <br />or does DOW have sufficient knowledge of the herd's habitat use in <br />