2011-05-23_REVISION - C1981019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The effect of this permitting action on local greater sage-grouse populations is of significant interest to your agency and especially to CDOW. Much of the cooperative meeting between CDOW and Coloywo focused specifically on how Colowyo will manage the expected impacts to this particular specie. An overview of the issues discussed, and some of Colowyo's proposed mitigation strategies have been included for your information. Many of the exact details are still under negotiation, but the overall strategy and level of Colowyo's commitment towards minimizing the impact to greater sage-grouse should be transparent. Reclamation Plan Discussion: - During initial discussions of the potential disturbance of areas within the Collom Expansion Area, held between CDRMS, CDOW and representatives from Coloywo, greater sage-grouse brood rearing habitat was identified as the specific wildlife habitat component most lacking locally. Substantial effort was employed to generate a proposed reclamation plan that would provide the greatest likelihood of creating this habitat on future reclamation areas in the Collom Expansion Area. CDOW reaffirmed the importance of creating this habitat type on April 29, 2011. - Coloywo will be required to establish a minimum of 350 acres of sagebrush steppe on the reclaimed surface within the Collom Expansion Area. CDOW is on record as being supportive of this level of establishment based on their review of the habitat to be disturbed and the overall goals of the proposed reclamation plan. Colowyo is specifically targeting approximately 600 acres (all areas on the proposed PMT < 10% slope) of core sagebrush steppe for establishment which is 250 acres above and beyond the regulatory requirement. On-site studies have identified improved shrub establishment on reclamation areas exhibiting shallow topsoil depths (average of 4 inches). All areas targeted for core sagebrush steppe establishment will receive this shallow topsoil application. This seed mix should also benefit from the elimination of aggressive grass species and an overall reduction in grass components (bunchgrasses are included and aggressive sod formers have been eliminated). - Additionally, Colowyo has created a proposed seed mix for the grassland targeted areas (all areas of the proposed PMT > 10% slope) that contains a large component of shrub seed (predominately Artemesia tridentata) and expects the development of substantial shrub communitites on areas > 10% slope as well that will be identified and counted towards Colowyo's sagebrush steppe acreage requirements. Variable topsoil depths will be applied in grassland targeted areas to more closely mimic pre-mine topsoil resource distribution and encourage the development of a diverse mix of plant communities based on differential aspect and elevation conditions as reclamation activities progress. - Specific field trials are scheduled to be conducted in the Collom Expansion Area to attempt to identify practices that encourage the re-establishment of the Tall Shrub plant community. To date, efforts to establish this plant community at Colowyo have been ineffective despite best management practices and efforts utilizing seed, containerized plantings, saplings and live transplant of mature individuals. As reclamation science continues to advance, additional efforts are being conducted to achieve some level of success moving forward and Colowyo is committed to supporting this process. - The short term loss of greater sage grouse habitat within the disturbance area is portrayed most effectively by the attached Map 23 (Mine Plan). The largest impact to sage grouse populations .would be during facility/initial boxcut development within the first five years Colowyo Mine C-1981-019 page 2 of 5 4 May 2011 Permit Revision 03 - Collom Permit Expansion