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COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE <br />PO BOX 775777 <br />Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 <br />970 871 -2855 • FAX: 970 871 -2853 <br />GW�:q-ak�2 <br />Colorado State }arks <br />Sage Creek Coal Company September 7, 2011 <br />PO Box 2050 <br />36600 Routt County Road 27 <br />Hayden, CO 81639 • - -- r `" <br />ATTN: Jerry Nettleton SEP i <br />20i1 <br />And DlWsmn c::.ee:::malrn, <br />ML^ mg try' S�ebj <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />ATTN: Jason Musick <br />RE: Exploration drilling — core bore holes <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) recently received a request from Twenty Mile Coal Company, <br />Foidel Creek Mine on exploratory drilling operations. The exploration project identifies 7 exploration drill <br />holes in T5N, R87W, Sections 26, 27, 34, and 35. Pad construction and drilling are presently proposed for <br />late fall 2011, and early winter 2012. The proposed drill holes will be small diameter (5.625 -inch diameter) <br />drill holes, and it is anticipated that site activity (pad construction, drilling, logging, sealing, and regrading) <br />for each location will be limited to a period of 2 -3 weeks each. Each pad will be approximately 75 x 75 feet <br />(0.15 acres). <br />Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) appreciates the opportunity to review the proposed exploration drill <br />sites with respect to wildlife impacts. The area southeast of Hayden contains some of the best <br />Columbian sharp - tailed grouse habitat in Colorado. This area also provides habitat for a small but <br />important population of greater sage - grouse. Historically the Twentymile Park area was home to awry <br />robust population of greater sage - grouse. Both of these grouse species are considered species of special <br />concern in Colorado. Local CPW personnel have reviewed the proposed drill locations with respect to <br />both Columbian sharp - tailed grouse and greater sage - grouse habitat. CPW has also reviewed the <br />proposed drill sites for impacts to any threatened or endangered wildlife species. <br />All of the proposed drill sites are within and Columbian sharp - tailed grouse (CSTG) critical breeding <br />habitat, which includes lek locations and nesting habitat. Historically, CPW has recommended no surface <br />occupancy within Y. mile of grouse lek locations. Because of the short-term impact of the drill holes, it is <br />not necessary to be completely outside of the lek buffer zones. Assuming that the drill hole is not directly <br />on top of the lek and that the disturbed area is adequately reclaimed following disturbance, we do not <br />anticipate any long term negative impacts to the lek. <br />The majority of Columbian sharp - tailed grouse nests are located within 1.25 miles of leks. CSTG may <br />abandon their nests with disturbance. All of the proposed drill sites are within C5TG grouse nesting <br />habitat and four of the seven are within an active CSTG lek buffer (TCW003, TCWD05, TCW006, TCW007). <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />John W. Hickenlooper, Governor. 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 Burtewrorth, Vice-Chalf. Chris Castilian <br />Dorothea Fams. Tim Glenn, Chair. Allan Jones. Bill Kane. Gaspar Pemcone . Jim Pnbyl . John Singletary <br />Mark Smith, Secretary . Robert Streeter. Lenna Watson. Dean Wingfield <br />Ex 08icb Members: Mike King and John Salazar <br />