2009-01-20_PERMIT FILE - X200923100

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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDI AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Thomas E. Remington, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 60216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 wildlife. state. co. us 19 December 2008 Mr. Scott Cowman Twentymile Coal Company 29515 Routt County Road 27 Oak Creek, CO 81639 RE: Sage Creek Exploration Project Dear Mr. Cowman, The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOV program for the Sage Creek Exploration Pt supports some of the best Columbian sharp critically important population of Greater s grouse are considered species of special cc proposed drill locations with respect to Co. CDOW also has reviewed the proposed dri FE sf tiq O'ff' OF For Wildlife- For People I appreciates the opportunity to review the proposed 2009 drilling ject with respect to wildlife impacts. The area southeast of Hayden tailed grouse habitat in Colorado. This area also supports a small but ge-grouse. Both Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and Greater sage- cern in Colorado. Local CDOW personnel have reviewed the mbian sharp-tailed grouse and greater sage-grouse habitat. The sites for impacts to any threatened or endangered wildlife species. Based on your written request as well as ve bal communications, our understanding is that equipment will be at each site for approximately one to two weeks and that drilling operations will disturb the minimum area necessary, with the maximum area disturbed not to exceed 100 X 100 feet. We also understand that best management practices will be applied at each drill site and reclamation will commence immediately upon completion of drilling and related activities On 13 November 2008, at the request of Cc Researcher Rick Hoffman evaluated 15 site Exploration Project. The sites were evaluat brood-rearing activities of Columbian sharp of the evaluation was to identify four to fivt negative impacts to grouse. Based on the rE objection to allowing Colorado Coal Resou sites: ccu 034, 035, 036, 037, and 040. The July will have little or no adverse effects on Regarding the remaining 10 sites, none wer grouse. However, these sites all occur with commence prior to July 1 to minimize imps Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan and the dra recommend no surface occupancy within 0. grouse leks. Sage Creek point ccu 046 is w DEPARTMENT OF NATi WILDLIFE CC Members, Dennis Buechler RoyA Ex orado Coal Resources, retired Colorado Division of Wildlife included within the 2009 drilling program for the Sage Creek ;d with respect to their potential impacts on the breeding, nesting, and tailed grouse and Greater sage-grouse. One of the primary objectives sites where drilling could commence prior to 1 July 2009 with no commendations provided by Mr. Hoffman, the CDOW has no ces to begin drilling activity prior to l July 2009 at the following five e sites are in marginal or non-grouse habitats where drilling prior to 1 grouse. deemed unacceptable for drilling from the standpoint of impacts to n grouse habitats and, therefore'we recommend'that drilling hot. ;ts on grouse'breeding and nesting activities: The.Statewide Greater 't rules presented by the COGCC'and initiated by HB1298 i miles of sage-grouse leks and 0.4"miles for Columbian sharp-tailed thin 0.6 miles of an active sage-grouse lek and points ccu 038, 039, 2AL RESOURCES, Harris D. Sherman, Executive Director MISSION, Robert Bray, Acting Chair, Secretary Brad Coors • Jeffrey Crawford • Dorothea Farris • Tim Glenn Anally *.Richard Ray • Robert Streeter Members, Harris Sherman and John Stulp -.. ---- :.._.., . ....... ......... ,.. . ..... _...