1987-12-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 (299)

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Further , Mid-Continent has told Pitkin county, as noted in the Pitkin County Special Review Permit , that it is in agreement with the goals of the "Thompson Creek Land Use Plan" of the U . S . F. S . , 1976 , which selects preferred alterna- tives for the postmining land use of the Coal Basin . Mid-Continent ' s land use plans have been reviewed by the U . S . Forest Service . Comments of the Forest Service are : "I and Acting Forest Supervisor George Morris see no conflict with your proposed postmining land use and Forest Service land management direction for the area . Your postmining use permit is so far down the road , however, that it is difficult to say what conditions would be at that time . The ski area proposal would have to follow the Colorado Review Process which involves several government entities and would require extensive involvement by the Forest . This letter is not an approval of a specific project , therefore, but does assure you that your basic postmining use does not conflict with our land management direction . " Source : Jack G . Troyer District Ranger White River National Forest , Sopris Ranger District "Termination of mining operations can have two general positive impacts on wildlife . Abandoned portals , roads , and staging areas can be put into primary production, and provide the physical habitat useful to many wild- life species . This would be a very small , but signifi- cant , increase in available habitat . The other , more important , impact can be a very significant reduction in human-related activity in Coal Basin . Such improved solitude conditions would permit increases of sensitive wildlife species ' populations . " Source: Marc Bosch District Wildlife Biologist , White River National Forest , Sopris Ranger District -41-