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This plan has been reviewed and it is our opinion the measures offered will be sufficient to address our <br />concerns. However, we would like to take this opportunity to urge New Horizon to employ the actions as <br />outlined in the second paragraph on page 4, Section 2.05.6 as a first choice. This option involves the use of <br />timing windows and the destruction of prairie dog burrows prior to any possible spring arrival of burrowing owls. <br />This would be in preference to the second option, described in the next paragraph, which in our opinion could <br />result in take of the species. At a minimum it will involve the need for spring surveys that may or may not locate <br />a breeding pair in a manner timely enough to avoid the need to move or destroy a nest. Mining operations can be <br />planned and executed in a manner that will insure the destruction of any vacant prairie dog burrows prior to the <br />initiation of burrowing owl nesting activity. <br />If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact myself or any of my staff. <br />Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. <br />Sincerely, <br />Renzo Del Piccolo <br />Area Wildlife Manager - Montrose <br />970.252.6010 <br />Cc: Tony Bonacquista - District Wildlife Manager - Nucla, Jim Garner - Conservation Biologist - Montrose, <br />Tom Speeze - Southwest Regional Manager