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Mr. Mike Boulay -4- March 23, 2011 <br />reclamation issue, it can be reasonably concluded that it is currently beyond the state-of- <br />the-art. <br />Although it may be true that other sites, even in Western Colorado along the Grand <br />Valley, have had success with reclamation, such sites have unique, site-specific <br />circumstances with regard to the local ecology, growth media, and reclamation potential <br />that cannot be found around the Snowcap site. This is not an uncommon observation. <br />However, at the same time, when all possible solutions are exhausted at a unique site, <br />one must accept that a final solution is not presently within the capability of reclamation <br />science. <br />Snowcap understands the CDOW's concerns, especially with regard to the <br />"reintroduced" bighorn population, and did everything feasible and scientifically prudent <br />to maximize opportunities for successful revegetation. However, as discussed above, <br />the requested changes are very minor and were made primarily to correct <br />misunderstandings of the ecological potential of the site from decades ago, more than <br />anything else. The reclaimed, private acreage (approximately 80 acres that the bighorn <br />sheep could access) is miniscule in comparison to the nearly 27000 acres that CDOW <br />estimated to be the potential area of bighorn habitat in Debeque Canyon and its side <br />canyons in their June 26, 2000 memo from Joe Gumber to Steve Yamashita. We do not <br />believe that the changes we are requesting will, in any way, degrade the standards in <br />the bighorn sheep habitat areas. <br />Sincerely, <br />r <br />Tonya, Hammond <br />Owner's Representative <br />Enclosures: Revised permit pages 14-18 through 14-22 <br />cc: DRMS Denver, Mesa County Clerk, BLM, SCC File