2010-05-19_PERMIT FILE - M1980248 ‎(4)‎

• Permit No: M1980248
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 5/19/2010
• Doc Name: Response to comments made by Division of Wildlife
• From: Marvin Moore
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: AM2
• Email Name: DMC
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

10-MAY-2010 01:37PM FROM-DIV RECLAMATION MINING & SAFETY
STATE OF COLORADO
Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Thomas E. Remington, Director
6060 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80216
Telephone: [phone]
wildlife. state, co. us
Dustin M. Czapla, Environmental Protection Specialist
Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
May 7, 2010
RE: Moffat County, Lyons Pit No. 2
Permit No. M-1980-248
[phone] T-648 P.002/003 F-792
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ARCEVED 4
MAY 10 20
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Dlvition cl
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Mining and Safety
For Wildlife-
For People
To Mr. Czapla: NT2?`
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Lyons No.2 Pit expansion operated by Moffat County Board of
located 3 miles southeast of Craig in Section 2, Township 6N,
i
i
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te
County Commissioners. The proposed s
Range 90W, of Moffat County. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has reviewed this application. and.
would like to provide the following comments.
The CDOW believes that the habitat within the development area has a high wildlife value. Wildlife species in the
the area of proposed
Specifically
nd numerous other species
1-4/A
2 ,
.
area include deer, elk, eagles, coyotes, bobcats, a
ansion lies within an identified Elk Winter Concentration Areas. Additional wildlife habitats include
ex
p
Columbian Sharptail Grouse Winter Range and Elk Severe Winter Range.
Potential impacts to wildlife from this proposal could include habitat fragmentation, disruption to migration and
ished value to the beneficial buffer zone this property provides.
i
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3 n
m
habitat connection corridors, as well as
During the mining operation as well as once the site is reclaimed, consideration should be given to minimizing
for
tunit
h
y
e oppor
acts to wildlife through sound operational procedures and reclamations that enhances t
im
p
wildlife.
Consideration should also be taken on the amount of gravel pits that are stacking up in the immediate area around
this pit on the Yampa River corridor- These riparian areas are vital to wildlife and most species use these wetland
h
e area
areas for some aspect of their life cycle. The cumulative effect of the entire disturbance from the pits in t
should be looked at seriously- Big game species including deer and elk use the river area as a migration corridor
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and cumulative disturbance may have an effect on migration. With the migration corridor and winter range in
mind we would recommend that a seasonal closure on the mining operation during the critical winter/early spring
ate some of the stress/disturbance to wintering deer/elk and
ld miti
i
g
s wou
period (January 1 to March 31). Th
allow movement to winter grounds.
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N,op-native weeds •ecies;liae. become established on many disturbed''soils'tltroti' nut the area: 'Tine invasion of
is p . ,.., .,.,, i:., . ;? i
- of 'native vegetation •and"l'ess6 & h2liitar values:fo'r."ristive wiI'dliife
derisit
h
y
e
non-native weeds reduces t
Many of these on-ttaTive weeds are not used as forage by wildlife. The continual control and removal
species
bl
;
e to
we6as.on the.4.Usturbed/rehabilitated sites will help restore native vegetation that is valua
nen-native
,of
,
;
• wltdl ifc.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, James B. Martin, Executive Director
WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tim Glenn, Chair. Robert Streeter, Vice Chair • Mark Smith, Secretary
John Singletary • Dean wngfield
Members, David R. Brougham • De s Buechler *DJames B. Martin and John Stup
0- flAfieIn er