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STATE OF COLORADO <br />Gp1A?O <br />Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE y <br />sf tiq <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER OF <br />Thomas E. Remington, Director <br />6060 Broadway For Wildlife- <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 For Prchlr <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />wildlife. state. co. us <br />June 11, 2008 <br />Routt County Planning Department <br />PO Box 773749 <br />Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 <br />ATTN: Chad Phillips <br />RE: Coal Camp Exploration Project <br />Dear Mr. Phillips, <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) recently received a request from Peabody Coal Company to support <br />their request to begin drilling operations in select locations within the Cow Camp Exploration Project. A <br />condition of approval by Routt County of this project was that drilling not proceed prior to July 151 in order to <br />protect Columbian sharp-tailed grouse nesting activity. Last week, at Peabody's request, CDOW Conservation <br />Biologist Liza Rossi and Rick Hoffman inspected fourteen of the permitted drill sites. They surveyed an <br />additional number of sites on June 12th. They determined that drilling could safely commence prior to July I" at <br />drill sitesl2, 14, 23, 31, and 28 with no negative impacts to grouse nesting activity. They also advised that drilling <br />at site 16 would be possible if that site was moved to an adjacent agricultural field. They expressed a concern <br />about any drilling activity at site 30 due to its location near a Greater sage-grouse lek. They made a request to <br />Peabody representatives to visit this site prior to the commencement of any drilling activity to assist in the <br />placement of the drill site where it would do the least amount of harm. <br />On the basis of the information provided I am requesting that Routt County allow Peabody to begin drilling <br />activity at these five sites contingent on their procurement of all necessary permits from other permitting agencies. <br />I am also recommending they be allowed to drill at site 16 if they move the location of the site as recommended <br />by Ms. Rossi and Mr. Hoffman. The remaining sites visited by Ms. Rossi and Mr. Hoffman all occur within <br />typical grouse nesting habitat and require the protection afforded by the Jul}' 1 timing stipulation. <br />If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me at 871-2842. <br />Sincerely, <br />James M. Haskins <br />Area Wildlife Manager <br />Steamboat Springs, CO <br />CC: R. Velarde, Area File, S. Znamenacek <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Harris D. Sherman, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Robert Bray, Acting Chair, Secretary <br />Members, Dennis Buechler • Brad Coors • Jeffrey Crawford • Dorothea Farris • Tim Glenn <br />Roy McAnally • Richard Ray • Robert Streeter <br />Ex Officio Members, Harris Sherman and John Stulp