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June 27, 2013
<br />COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE
<br />2500 South Main Street • Lamar, Colorado 81052
<br />Phone (719) 336 -6600 • FAX (719) 336 -6623
<br />wildlife.state.co.us • parks.state.co.us
<br />Tyler =- 6.P',Do elf
<br />RECEIVE[
<br />Environmental Protection Specialist
<br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
<br />pi 0 7 2013
<br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215
<br />Denver, CO 80203
<br />DIVISION OF RECLAMAT19N
<br />Phone: (303) 866 -3567
<br />MINING ANt3 SAFETY
<br />cD PY
<br />Dear Mr. O'Donnell,
<br />Thank you for providing us the opportunity to comment on the proposed application to
<br />convert the Shannon Pit, M- 1979 -163, a 110(c) Limited Impact Construction Permit to a
<br />112 (C) Regular Construction Materials Permit located at Section 15, Township 33S,
<br />Range 53W, Las Animas, Colorado.
<br />As requested we have reviewed the proposed mining conversion application and
<br />understand that the current Shannon pit encompasses a total of 9.79 permitted acres, with
<br />a proposed expansion of an additional 10.03 acres. The 19.92 total acres within the
<br />permitted area will be used by Las Animas County government to mine road base,
<br />barrow, and rip -rap. We understand that these materials will be used for county road
<br />maintenance, fill material, and erosion control.
<br />After a site visit to the Shannon Pit, M -1979 -163, by District Wildlife Manager Mike
<br />Brown and through consultation of Colorado Parks and Wildlife Area Biologists Mike
<br />Smith and Jonathan Reitz, we have determined that the impacts from the Shannon pit
<br />expansion and conversion, as proposed and properly mitigated, may be characterized as
<br />minimal with no significant impacts unless otherwise noted. To our knowledge there are
<br />no known Threatened or endangered species within close proximity to the Shannon pit.
<br />Additionally, the project will not affect any aquatic species or wetlands.
<br />The proposed expansion of the Shannon Pit includes approximately 10.03 acres which is
<br />comprised of an assortment of vegetative cover. Specifically, the areas dominate species
<br />include pinyon, Junipers, cholla cactus, buffalo grass and blue gramma.
<br />The current mine and proposed expansion is located in an area with a high degree of
<br />wildlife diversity. The following list of species may be found throughout the area.
<br />Mule Deer, White Tailed Deer, Swift Fox, Coyote, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Black Bear,
<br />Mountain Cottontail, Jack Rabbit, Scaled Quail, Merriam's Turkey, Greater Roadrunner,
<br />Northern Harrier, Red - Tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, American Kestrel, Mountain
<br />STATE OF COLORADO
<br />John W. Hickenlooper, Governor. Mike KN, Executive Director, Departrnent of Natural Resources
<br />Rids D. Cables, Director, Colorado Parks and Wife
<br />Parks and Wadlife Commission: Robert W. Bray • Chris Castilian • Jeanne Home
<br />Bill Kane, Vice -Chair • Gaspar Penicone • James Pribyl . John Singletary, Chair
<br />Mark Smith, Secretary • James Vigrl • Dean Wingfield . Midielle Zimmerman
<br />Ex Officio Members: Mike Nng and John Salazar
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