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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bruce McCloskey, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (3031 297-1192 For I~ildlife- ForPeople August 8, 2005 Mr. Rocky Thompson, Sr. Geologist Twentymile Coa] Company 29515 Routt County Road 27 Oak Creek, CO 80467 RE: Core Drill Proposal Near Former Hayden Gulch Mine Dear Rocky, Thank you for providing the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) with the locations of the proposed core drilling sites. Jim Haskins, the District Wildlife Manager in Hayden, was able to visit the locations on Monday August 8, 2005. He advises that there are no known occurrences of any state or federally listed threatened or endangered species near the proposed drill locations. There are two active and one historical lek sites for Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse near the proposed drill site locations. These lek sites are frequented by grouse in the spring of the year for breeding purposes and are important habitat features of this species. Male grouse also use these sites to a much more limited extent in the fall. The proposed drill locations on the southeast side of Routt County Road 53 are each approximately one-half mile from the closest active lek site. This is an adequate buffer to protect the lek site, especially as the proposed activity will occur outside the breeding season. The CDOW's understanding is that the core drilling will last for approximately 10 days and will take place in mid-September 2005. The proposed drill location on the northwest side of Routt County Road 53 is within one to two-tenths of a mile from the historical lek site. This site does not appear to have been actively used by breeding grouse within the last few years. Therefore it is Jim's opinion that the proposed core drilling activity at this site will have no negative impacts on local grouse populations. The CDOW understands that reclamation of the core drill sites will be completed by late October 2005. The CDOW recommends using a seed mix sir„i'.ar tc Twertyrnile Coal's reclamation mix in Eckman Park. This seed mix has proven to be beneficial for Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse habitat. We also recommend the use of native bunch grasses rather than sod forming grasses such as smooth brome or intermediate wheatgrass. In addition, we recommend treating any noxious weeds in the disturbed areas. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. Don't hesitate to contact us if additional questions of wildlife impacts come up. Sincerely, GL97 LG~L4'LGf~ Susan Werner Area Wildlife Manager DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Jeffrey Crawford, Chair • Tom Burke, Vice Chair • Ken Torres, Secretary Members, Robert Bray • Rick Enstrom • Philip James • Claire O' Neal • Richard Ray • Robert Shoemaker Ex Officio Members, Russell George and Don Ament