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Response to DRMS Adequacy Review — Cotter JD -8 Mine Reclamation Plan Amendment <br />Revised Exhibit H <br />Wildlife Information <br />JD -8 Mine Permit Amendment <br />Response to Adequacy Review <br />M- 1984 -014 <br />The current plan for the JD -8 Mine is to use pre- existing roads to access the lower mine <br />area, and the vent hole sites on the top of Monogram Mesa. This should help to minimize <br />the effects from the building of new roads and destruction of potential wildlife habitat. <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) expressed concerns regarding the direct loss <br />of twelve acres of severe winter range for mining operations. However, these concerns <br />are unfounded because the proposed Mine Permit Amendment does not include an <br />additional twelve acres. Rather, the twelve acres under discussion are already affected <br />and have been affected since 2005. The acreage for the proposed ventholes was included <br />in the original permit, and the access roads to the proposed ventholes is acreage that <br />contains pre- existing drillroads and drillsites for access to the venthole locations. <br />The seasonal closure of the JD -8 mining operation to accommodate winter range <br />considerations for elk in this area is not a reasonable approach. This mine was permitted <br />in 1984 and there were no concerns expressed at that time regarding deer and elk winter <br />range. <br />In regards to considerations for bats in the area, there are no bat gates on any of the mine <br />portals associated with this mine. <br />Cotter has been and is planning to continue to control noxious weeds on the JD -8 lease <br />tract and the associated claims. <br />Page A -22 <br />