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<br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bttl Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUA! OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Russell George, Directs <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (3031297-1192 <br />~II II~~I~II~I~~~ ~I~ <br />999 <br />RECEIVED <br />March 5, 2001 <br />Carl Mount <br />Division of Minerals & Geology <br />1313 Sherman Street Room 2I5 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />MAR 1 2 2001 <br />Oivisioh of Minerals end Geology <br />Re: Platte Sand & Glavel LLC, S & H Mine, File No. M-2000-158 <br />Dear Mr. Mourn: <br />For ~ldlife- <br />For People <br />The following constitute the comments of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Mike Sherman (Field <br />Habitat Biologist) and Courtney Crawford (District Wildlife Manager) have reviewed this Reclamation <br />Permit Application Consideration and made field visits to the proposed mine site on June 5, 2000, <br />January 31, 2001, and February 6, 2001. We were accompanied on the first visit by Steve O'Brian, <br />Environment ,Inc., and on the second visit by Jerry Craig, research scientist and raptor specialist for the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife. <br />The Division of Wildlife continues to maintain those concerns stated our letter to Steve O'Brian (August <br />18, 2000) and included in the Reclaimation Permit Application Consideration. I have attached to this <br />letter another letter written by Courtney Crawford to Weld County Dept. of Plaluling Services (February <br />7, 2001) regazding this project and wish you to also consider these comments and recommendations. In <br />addition, we have further concerns and recommendations as follows. <br />It is our understanding that a dredge and fill permit (404) is not required at this time because no <br />jurisdictional wetlands will be impacted. However, the proposed mining activity will take place adjacent <br />to existing wetlands, high quality riparian habitat, and mature cottonwood groves. We are concerned <br />about the potential to negatively impact these surrounding habitat types from the drawdown of <br />groundwater levels in the vicinity. We aze particulazly concerned about the possible impact to mature <br />cottonwood trees growing along the length of the South Platte River because of their historical and <br />current use by the federally listed (threatened) Bald eagle. We aze particularly concerned about the <br />possible impact to wetlands and riparian habitat because this is potential habitat for the federally listed <br />(threatened) Preble's meadow jumping mouse. Note there is a historical record for this species within <br />close proximity to the project area. We highly recommend that the applicant be required to establish a <br />detailed monitoring program for review by outside entities (e.g. Division of Wildlife, U.S. Environmental <br />Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) to prevent drawdown of groundwater levels in all <br />wetlands, riparian habitat, and cottonwood groves adjacent to the proposed mining activity. <br />I have enclosed a map marking the location of the Bald eagle winter roost which stretches along the <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Gng E. Wak;her, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Bernard L. Blade, Jr., Chairman • Ridt Enstiom, Vice-Chairman • Phily James, Secretary <br />Members. Tom Burke .Mark LeVallev • Marianna Raftoooubs • Robert Shoemaker • Orrve VaHez <br />