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United States Department of the Interior <br />FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE <br />COLORADO FIELD OFFICE <br />330 S. GARRISON ST. <br />LAKEWOOD,COLORADO 80225 <br />IN REPLY REFER TO: <br />"tEMORANDUM ^2' <br />,, AUG 1982 <br />R~ECI_i1itD <br />To: Ms. Shirley Lindsay, Office of Surface Jgining, ~~ ~SDr~CSM <br />Reclamation and Enforcement, Denver, CO <br />.~92 ,Lc <br />From: Energy Project Leader, :JSFWS, Colorado Field Office, <br />Lakewood, CO <br />Subject: Review of Utah International's Trapper Mine <br />Since the mine has been in operation, the most severe impac'= to wildlife <br />has been the displacement of elk. This is due to a loss of winter habitat <br />and the) impacts of mining on elk winter range. To mitigate for this loss <br />of habitat, Utah International needs to increase available forage for elk. <br />The elk presently move off of the property causing depredation on adjacent <br />crop lands. The mine plan points out that many of the adjacent areas to <br />• the mine property have oak brush densities greater than 51 %. These areas <br />need to be opened up to increase their browse potential. Another alterna- <br />tive may be to cut and fertilize surrounding sagebrush communities to help <br />stimulate growth for deer and elk browse. <br />We recently completed a raptor survey of the Trapper 1.1ine complex and <br />surrounding areas. r9ost of the information we compiled checked out with <br />the information supplied by Utah International in their mine plan; however, <br />we located a prairie falcon aerie within a quarter mile of the lease boundary. <br />The nest is located in the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 5 North, <br />Range 90 West. We're not sure how this nest lays in relation to long-term <br />mining plans but request a buffer area be established around the nest to <br />protect it. <br />1Je would li4:e to thank 'Jtah International for contacting us in the early <br />stages of their mine plan development and ask them to continue to contact <br />us and the Colorado Division of Wildlife if they have any wildlife problems <br />which we may be able to help them resolve. In addition, we want to thank <br />you for the opportunity to comment on Utah International's mine plan. <br />r'Or Project Leader <br />cc: Utah International, Box 187, Craiq, CO, 81625 <br />BLP1, Craig (Attn: Herb Conley) <br />CD041, Grand Junction (Attn: Bill Clark) <br />