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05-24-2008 11:09 L 9708723009 PFIGE2 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />GOg%o <br />Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES b ,,' <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE , o <br />AN EOUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER r0* OE ,v <br />Thomas E. Remington, Director <br />6060 Broadway For Ml!!ltfe- <br />Denver. Colorado 80216 Fol. People <br />Telephones 1303) 297.1192 <br />wildlife. state. co. us <br />June 5, 2008 <br />Linda "Sue" Carter <br />Nuvemco, LLC <br />10771 3200 Road <br />Hotchkiss, CO. 81419 <br />RE: October mine wildlife comments <br />Dear Ms. Carter, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the October Mine and wildlife in the area. <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) recommends the following: <br />The October mine is located in Mesa County near the Utah state line and has been inactive for a <br />number of years. The area surrounding the October mine encompasses the Pinion/Juniper plant <br />community. A large fire burned through this area more than 10 years ago. Currently there are few <br />small stands of Pinion/Juniper and lots of scrub oak, serviceberry and mountain mahogany <br />reestablishing in the area of the mine. <br />The mine encompasses important winter range for mule deer and severe winter range for elk and <br />sees some wild turkeys wintering in the area as well. In order to maintain mule deer and elk winter <br />use of the area surrounding the mine, the CDOW suggests implementing seasonal closures on <br />mining activities between the months of December and April when the largest concentrations of <br />wintering mule deer and elk are in the area. Mountain lions, black bears, bobcats and coyotes can <br />all be found in the area of the October mine during the course of a year. <br />There are several different species of bats that Inhabit the area. One species In particular, the <br />Townsend's Big Eared Bat is considered a species of special concern in Colorado. Active <br />mines have been shown to have little to no impact on bats due to continuous human activity in <br />and around active mines. However, inactive mines are often used by bats as either winter <br />roost sites or summer breeding areas. Many of these inactive mines have "bat gates" on them, <br />allowing bats access and denying human disturbance. If bat gates are encountered on any <br />mine shafts, the CDOW strongly suggests contacting our field personnel to determine the time <br />of year bats inhabit the area, and potentially creating seasonal mining closures. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Harris D. Sherman, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Roben Bray, Acting Chair, Secretary <br />Membors, Dennis Buechler • Brad Coors • Jeffrey Crawford a Dorothea Farris • Tim Glenn <br />Roy McAnally - Richard Rey • Robert Streeter <br />Ex Officio Members, Harris Sherman and John Stulp