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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />November 8, 2005(/ <br />Alan or David Chiles <br />Rim Rock Exploration and Development <br />P.O. Box 482 <br />Nucla, Colorado 81424 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />~~ <br />DtY~St <br />~ ~ ~ ~~ <br />4t <br />'Gi Bill Owens <br />,i~t/,y,&IS yy <br />/ <br />rCept~Y Governor <br />y <br />~,/ Russell George <br /> Executive Director <br /> Ronald W. Cattany <br /> Division Director <br /> <br />'~ 1~ " <br />Re: J Birds Mine, Application M-2005-050, Forward of Division of Wildlife (DOW) <br />Comments. <br />Dear Mr. Chiles: <br />The Division of Minerals and Geology has received comments on the above referenced <br />application from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The comments were received after <br />the comment period closed on October l St, 2005 and by Rule are not considered valid. <br />However, their concerns appear to be being addressed and as a courtesy are being <br />forwarded on to Rim Rock. The comments specifically address concerns about noxious <br />weed control and impacts on wildlife habitat loss. Division review indicates Rim Rock <br />may not have received those comments. <br />As staff and Rim Rock have discussed prior to the submitted comments a weed control <br />plan approved by Montrose County will address their concerns for noxious weeds. By <br />Rule, the Division has no authority to establish weed density requirements as suggested, <br />however the applicant and the Division can use the percentages as a guidelines. <br />Wildlife habitat issues are addressed as incremental and cumulative losses and suggest <br />concentrated activities as much as possible in a few core areas as not to disturb wintering <br />wildlife. This issue is also one that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wishes to <br />review in more detail. The overall Mining Plan appears to keep disturbance [o mostly <br />historically disturbed areas. This will, staff believes, address the wildlife habitat loss. <br />The main issue maybe vehicle traffic in and out of the site and its affect on wintering <br />wildlife. This is an issue outside the Division'sjurisdiction, but may affect the Mining <br />Plan indirectly. Once the BLM has finished their review, Division staff will forward on <br />those findings to the DOW for their records. <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION O F <br />MIN &RALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />RECLAMATION•MINING <br />SAf ETY•SC IENCE <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey <br />