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March 14, 2012 <br />COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE <br />7405 Highway 50 • Salida, Colorado 81201 <br />Phone (719) 530 -5520 • FAX (719) 530 -5554 <br />wildlife.state.co.us • parks.state.co.us <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Attn: Timothy A. Cazier, Environmental Protection Specialist <br />SUBJECT: Colorado Quarries Inc, Mica White, Permit No. M -1992 -058 <br />Dear Timothy, <br />RECEIVED <br />MAR 2 3 2012 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining & Safety <br />The purpose of this letter is to provide requested comments regarding the conversion of M -1992 -058, Mica <br />White, a 110( c) Limited Impact Construction Materials Permit to a 112( c) Regular Construction Materials <br />Permit as requested by Colorado Quarries Inc. In response to their application, we haven't any objection to <br />the conversion. <br />Once completed, we recommend rangeland reclamation to restore the vegetation and soils to their previous <br />composition. Since the quarry is active, Colorado Quarries Inc. may want to contact a rangeland specialist <br />with the NRCS before doing any further expansion of operations to document range production, existing <br />plant communities, and percentage of plant species, soil types, and other information to properly reclaim <br />the area using native species. If the entire permitted area has been disturbed by mining we recommend <br />doing a plant survey in an adjacent undisturbed area to best determine what the site looked like prior to <br />mining operations. <br />While discussing matters with a rangeland specialist, it may benefit wildlife to include higher <br />concentrations of plant species that will enhance wildlife habitat and cover. In particular, the area <br />surrounding is used by mule deer and elk throughout the year with the winter period being the most critical. <br />To improve habitat for these species we recommend planting higher concentrations of rabbit brush and <br />mountain mahogany as a way to increase browse species and plant diversity. Legumes are good too as they <br />condition the soil. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. If you have questions or require additional <br />information please feel free to call me at 719 -530 -5520. <br />Sincerely, <br />Jim Arago <br />Area Wildlife Manager <br />Salida Office <br />Cc: Dan Prenzlow,RM <br />Kimberly Woodruff, DWM rirc <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />John W. Hickenlooper, Govemor • Mike King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources <br />Rick D. Cables, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife <br />Parks and Wildlife Commission: David R. Brougham • Gary Butterworth, Vice -Chair • Chris Castilian <br />Dorothea Farris • Tim Glenn, Chair • Allan Jones • Bill Kane • Gaspar Perricone • Jim Pribyl • John Singletary <br />Mark Smith, Secretary • Robert Streeter • Lenna Watson • Dean Wingfield <br />Ex Officio Members: Mike King and John Salazar <br />RECEIVED <br />MAR 2 3 2012 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining & Safety <br />