2008-11-07_PERMIT FILE - M2008025

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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OFYWILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLO Thomas E. Remington, Director Southeast Region 4255 Sinton Road Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907 Telephone: (719)227-5200 ?1M ?S r 4 OF ?ti? 17 2 For Wi Idlife- For People ,OOcctober 17th, 2008 "Michael A. Cunningham, Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Kunau-Site File-Number -M=2008-025 Dear Mr. Cunningham: The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is in receipt of the above referenced permit application and is familiar with the site located east of Yoder Road and south of Vorenberg Road in El Paso County. DOW staff has visited the site and offers the following comments for your consideration. The vegetation is comprised mainly of short grass prairie species and Yucca. This habitat type will sustain numerous wildlife species including deer, antelope, coyote, swift fox, raptors, ground nesting birds and numerous small mammals. The DOW is concerned about the potential impacts that'mining could have on swift fox (State species of concern) because the mining project is located in possible swift fox habitat. The DOW requests that surveys be conducted for the presence of swift fox or their dens on the site proposed for mining. If swift fox surveys show that they are present in the area, mining should not occur within % mile of den sites between March 15 and June 15 or during the breeding or whelping seasons, which occurs from January through May. Pups are not weaned until approximately 2 months of age, at which time they are still dependent on their parents. Swift fox are dependent on dens year round and will most likely not be outside of the dens on windy days. Therefore, surveys for swift fox should occur on calm weather days. The DOW suggests that care be taken during mining to avoid excess erosion or disturbance of more land than necessary to accomplish the project. We also suggest that the area be reasonably reclaimed following mining. We recommend reusing the original top soil that is removed from the surface by placing it back in its original location after mining is completed. Once the original top soil is in place, then we recommend planting the disturbed areas with native vegetation that matches the native vegetation already present in the area. -continued- DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Harris D. Sherman, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Robert Bray, Chair • Brad Coors, Vice Chair • Tim Glenn, Secretary Members, Dennis Buechler • Jeffrey Crawford • Dorothea Farris • Roy McAnally • Richard Ray • Robert Streeter Ex Officio Members, Harris Sherman and John Stulp