2011-09-14_REVISION - C1982056 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 9, 2011 Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 ATTN: Janet Binns: Environmental Protection Specialist RE: Technical Revision-Application (TR11 77) - - - - 15-Left Vent Shaft Installation and Rock Dust Transfer Location Dear Ms. Binns, COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE 925 Weiss Drive • Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 (970) 871 -2855 • (970) 871 -2853 wildlife.state.co.us • parks.state.co.us FiECEIVE 5EP 14 ?oil !°,,, • a n l iatron , and Safofy o c ri ; • •AA.-,- Colorado State Parks Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) appreciates the opportunity to review the proposed 15 -Left Vent Shaft Installation and Rock Dust Transfer Location requested by Peabody Coal Company. The proposed new ventilation shaft will be located off an existing light - use road serving the Fish Creek Water Treatment Facility in the SWV4SE1/4 Section 24, T5N, and R87W. The proposed activity will result in an additional 2.3 acres of new disturbance to the area including the new access road and ancillary facilities. Once constructed, the site will need to be inspected on a daily basis and the rock dust tank will need to be emptied once a week, causing continual, year -round disturbance of the site. The proposed site location for the 15 -Left Ventilation Shaft is in an upland meadow that can be characterized as improved pastureland for hay production and/or livestock grazing. Historically the site would have been a sagebrush- steppe or mountain shrub habitat type. The site is also located approximately 0.1 miles from Fish Creek. The area southeast of Hayden, including Twentymile Park, supports some of the best Columbian sharp - tailed grouse (CSTG) habitat in Colorado. This area also supports a small but critically important population of Greater sage - grouse (GSG). Greater sage - grouse and Columbian sharp - tailed grouse are both considered species of special concern in the state. Greater sage - grouse are also a federal candidate species. In addition to providing valuable grouse habitat, the Twentymile Park area also provides important winter range for elk. In regards to grouse impacts, there are two CSTG leks and one active GSG lek that are located in the direct vicinity of the proposed project site. Attached to this letter is a complete list of Best Management Practices (BMP's) for both the Columbian sharp - tailed STATE OF COLORADO John W. Hickenlooper, Govemor • Mike King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources Rick D. Cables, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Parks and Wildlife Commission: David R. Brougham • Gary Butterworth, Vice -Chair • Chris Castilian Dorothea Farris • Tim Glenn, Chair • Allan Jones • BiII Kane • Gaspar Perricone • Jim Pribyl • John Singletary Mark Smith, Secretary • Robert Streeter • Lenna Watson • Dean Wingfield Ex Officio Members: Mike King and John Salazar