Laserfiche WebLink
T'- <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Thomas E. Remington, Director <br />Southeast Region <br />4255 Sinton Road <br />Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907 <br />Telephone: (719)227-5200 <br />October 17th, 2008 <br />Michael A. Cunningham, Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />4 <br />0*OF <br />For Wildlife- <br />For People <br />t <br />4 <br />RECEIVED <br />NOV 0 7 2008 <br />Re: Kunau Site File Number: M-2008-025 Division <br />Minir i! 1;-0 t? ty <br />Dear Mr. Cunningham: C0701 <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is in receipt of the above referenced permit application and is <br />familiar with the site located east of Yoder Road and south of Vorenberg Road in El Paso County. <br />DOW staff has visited the site and offers the following comments for your consideration. <br />The vegetation is comprised mainly of short grass prairie species and Yucca. This habitat type will <br />sustain numerous wildlife species including deer, antelope, coyote, swift fox, raptors, ground nesting <br />birds and numerous small mammals. <br />The DOW is concerned about the potential impacts that mining could have on swift fox (State species <br />of concern) because the mining project is located in possible swift fox habitat. The DOW requests that <br />surveys be conducted for the presence of swift fox or their dens on the site proposed for mining. If swift <br />fox surveys show that they are present in the area, mining should not occur within % mile of den sites <br />between March 15 and June 15 or during the breeding or whelping seasons, which occurs from <br />January through May. Pups are not weaned until approximately 2 months of age, at which time they <br />are still dependent on their parents. Swift fox are dependent on dens year round and will most likely <br />not be outside of the dens on windy days. Therefore, surveys for swift fox should occur on calm <br />weather days. <br />The DOW suggests that care be taken during mining to avoid excess erosion or disturbance of more land <br />than necessary to accomplish the project. We also suggest that the area be'reasonably reclaimed <br />following mining. We recommend reusing the original top soil that is removed from the surface by <br />placing it back in its original location after mining is completed. Once the original top soil is in place, <br />then we recommend planting the disturbed areas with native vegetation that matches the native <br />vegetation already present in the area. <br />-continued- <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hams D. Sherman, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Robert Bray, Chair • Brad Coors, Vice Chair • Tim Glenn, Secretary <br />Members, Dennis Buechler* Jeffrey Crawford • Dorothea Farris • Roy McAnally • Richard Ray • Robert Streeter <br />Ex Officio Members, Hams Sherman and John Stulp