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'? •. STaTEOF COIORnDO COA/L~lr <br />:_•. AI-n.re o. Lamrn, cor.rner II I III III III IIII III <br />:._ DEPnRiMENI OF NATURS.I RESOURCCS • ~ ! 999 <br />-.-. DIVISION OF 1NILDL1Fi= o ~`, ~ ~ <br />-''-r •Jeck R. Grieb, D~reclor ~ ?o~~`-.';~Q - <br />-r;= ~ v <br />','yt ~ ~„ 6060 Broadway ~ .y OF v <br />~ ~'~':;' ` Denver, Colorado 80216 (825-1192) <br />,r__./. <br />~~ ~~ ~ July 1, 1980 <br />~:''-' <br />_. <br />_.:v <br />a~ ' J~. w. <br />• T1r. Pfarvin Pearson <br />=-^ District Manager-Craig District <br />~... g <br />~-'rS~" U.S. Bureau of Land Mana ement <br />'><~~~~:• Craig, CO 81b25 <br />- Dear ?]arv: - <br />It has been brought to our attention that Energy Fuels Corporation <br />has discovered and wishes to mine a coal deposit under the wildlife <br />buffer zone on its Eckman Park coal lease. As you may recall, the <br />buffer zone was established [o protect and preserve an elk calving <br />area. <br />:. Observations this past spring have determined that there is more <br />r•;.. extensive elk calving habitat than was first thought. It is not <br />~. '. known whether or not the elk presently utilizing the buffer zone <br />. .. will successfully move to the adjacent habitat, if the buffer zone <br />_ is mined. Our field biologists feel [hat there will be impacts to <br />elk and other wildlife species both from the existing lease and <br />mining of the buffer zone, however these impacts can be substantially <br />mitigated and the situation provides an excellent opportunity to <br />study the specific effects of coal mining on elk behavior. <br />We have discussed the situation with Energy Fuels and they have <br />agreed in Rinciple to pursue a mitigation program. Specifically we <br />- recommend that the lease be amended to include coal under the wildlife <br />buffer zone with the following stiyulations: . <br />?1. .1n el'rc tagging program should be dune for three years, with <br />'monitoring to continue for two additional years, when mining of <br />the wildlife buffer zone is commenced. This program should be <br />designed to monitor elk calving behavior in the subject area. <br />Elk should he fitted with colored and numbered neckbands and ear <br />tags to identify individual animals. Nur..bers of animals [o be <br />mar'~ed are as follows: <br />First year: ;liddle Creek - 50 <br />Foidel Creek - 30 <br />Second year: `liddle Creek - 30 <br />Foidel Creek - 30 <br />•t <br />'Third wear: :liddle Creek - 30 <br />Foidel Creek - 20 <br />