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<br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />James B. Rueh, Dlnetor <br />8080 Broadway <br />Denver, Coloretlo 80218 <br />Talep hone: (303) 297.1192 <br />711 Independent Avenue <br />Grand Junction, CO 81505 <br />Mr. David Berry <br />Colorado Mined Lend Reclamation Division <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 423 <br />Deaver, CO 80203-2273 <br />Dear Mr. Berry: <br />l~ III III'll lll'll~'ll <br />9s9 .. ~2 <br />~pW R.tpo <br />~~v <br />3s~~~ <br />'Y OF `~ <br />July~ll, 1988 ` ~ ~~~~ <br />I1~~ "~ <br />gut 12 tgaa <br />cJt1hED 1"Ap~,~;s~~`~ <br />[tEC~~`Mp,TlO~ <br />I have reviewed the technical revision application from Colorado Yampa Coal <br />Company. I have no problem with their request to change all cropland to <br />pastureland. This will not impact wildlife to any measurable degree. <br />The request in part 2 of their application deals with revisions to the <br />pre-mine mapping. If the new mapping is more accurate es a result of using <br />aerial photographs I have no objection to this change. <br />Part 3 deals with en additional reduction of rangeland in favor of <br />pastureland/cropland. Though the impacts to the wildlife species we have <br />keyed on in this area may be minimal this is a major change is post-mine land <br />use and it will affect other wildlife. I believe the main reason for this <br />request is that the coal mining companies in this area have found that it is <br />much more difficult to reclaim shrubs then they originally thought. I also <br />feel that all of them have some obligation to continue to advance the art and <br />science of shrub reclamation since northwest Colorado has been disturbed as <br />much as it has by surface mining. The current standard of 1000 stems per acre <br />is a fraction of the shrubs in pre-mined stands. If part 3 of CYCC's request <br />is approved then I would like to see some consideration given to raising the <br />shrub density standard on the remaining rangeland. This would allow them to <br />achieve their objective for livestock management post-mining and still meet <br />their obligation to continue to work on shrub reclamation and to benefit all <br />wildlife species. <br />finclosed are the maps you sent and please contact me if you need anything <br />further. <br />Sincerely, <br />r <br />m Morris <br />Wildlife Biologist <br />JM:ch <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hamlet J. Barry, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, George Van DenBerg, Chairman . Robert L Fre idenberger, Vice Chairman . William R. Hegberg, Secretary <br />Eldon W. Cooper, Member . Rebecca L. Frank Member . Dennis Luttrell, Member • Gene B. Peterson, Member . Larry M. Wright, Member <br />