GENERAL52498

• Permit No: M1999042
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 2/17/2004
• Doc Name: USFS Winter Operations Requirements
• From: USFS
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

<'"®' \ United States
~~~ Depar[meut of
Agriculture
sorest " White River
Service National
Forest

Sopris Ranger District
P.O. Rox 309
Carbondale, CO 81623
[phone]
FAX [phone]
rakl~< 6aaksM~ne~'H" f994-oy2 ~•us~s wi~ftlePtrw. r.~i regur~e..se., s
~ File Code: 28jQ
Date: February 5, 2004
Robert Congdon RECEiilE®
0367 Avalanche Creek Road
Carbondale, CO 81623 FEB 2 5 2004 FEB ~ ~ Y004~
piuision of Minerals and Geology
Dear Robert:
+
e~asr~gl,
This letter is meant to provide you with direction for operation this winter to comply with t e
wildlife-related concerns addressed in the biological analysis as has been discussed with you on
the phone. I am enclosing a copy of the analysis prepared by this office. To minimize impacts
to wildlife the following measures must betaken:
1. Operations are limited during the day. Operations are to be restricted at night to avoid
disturbing bedded wildlife. Pitkin County Commissioners have confirmed that the mine
may operate from lam to 7pm, consistent with requirements for commercial activity in
the County. Per your proposal all blasting will take place during the day time hours of
10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
2. Security lights are to be equipped with motion sensors to avoid nighttime disturbance to
wildlife.
3. A bear-proof garbage dumpster is to be used for temporary storage of trash on-site.
4. From 15 November to 1 May, all dogs are to be removed from the permit area.
5. Construction of the bypass and access road to the secondary escapeway, including
installation of closure gates, is to begin no earlier than 1 April 2004 and end by ]5
November 2003, to avoid disturbance to wintering wildlife. Period of construction is to
he based on weather and results from wildlife monitoring.
6. Use of the secondary escapeway is to be limited after initial construction and excavation
. to emergency use and occasional maintenance to comply with mire safety standards.
7. The secondary escapeway shaft is to be covered upon completion, thereby avoiding
trapping bats in the shaft.
8. Monitoring disturbance from surface operations is to be conducted by the Forest Service
and Division of Wildlife during the period 15 November to 1 May to quantify effects to
wildlife during this new period of operations. Significant disturbances observed to
wintering wildlife should result in potential modifications to surface operations to
minimize or eliminate their impacts. A monitoring report is to he prepared itemizing
documented impacts observed and recommendations for year-round operations.
u~is ~
Caring for the Land and Serving People Primed o~ Few~iea P~Pe, •