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Division to have occurred on October 13, 2015), performed a Mexican Spotted Owl <br />Survey Report (indicated by the Division to have occurred on June 24, 2016), and <br />completed a Nesting Raptor Survey Report. Mr. Boyle testified that the evaluations <br />at the site found no Mexican Spotted Owls, found no nesting raptors, found no Ute <br />Ladies' Tresses habitat, and identified approximately one hundred fifty species <br />likely to occur at the site. <br />30. Mr. Boyle testified at the hearing that the Mexican Spotted Owl is on <br />the federal list of "threatened" species. Mr. Boyle further testified that the Mexican <br />Spotted Owl is a small bird that is selective about where it nests, preferring old- <br />growth conifer forests, rock cliffs, and canyons. <br />31. Mr. Boyle testified that the age of the conifers in the area make it a <br />poor quality nesting habitat for Mexican Spotted Owl, but that one area at the site <br />could constitute nesting habitat. Mr. Boyle testified that approximately 325 acres <br />of suitable Mexican Spotted Owl foraging habitat would be impacted by the <br />proposed mining operation. Mr. Boyle testified that foraging by Mexican Spotted <br />Owl in the area of the proposed mining operation will not be possible until after <br />completion of reclamation. <br />32. Mr. Boyle testified that the proposed mining operation would displace <br />wildlife in the area, but that such impacts will be local and not regional. <br />33. John Sanderson, Ph.D. ("Dr. Sanderson") of The Nature Conservancy <br />testified on behalf of Objector Ingersoll Trust. Dr. Sanderson testified that the <br />proposed mining operation, as proposed in the Application, is in the heart of an area <br />of very high biodiversity significance and that it abuts an established nature <br />preserve that is more than one thousand six hundred acres in size. Dr. Sanderson <br />testified and showed exhibits demonstrating that Hitch Rack Ranch is within a <br />migratory corridor for animals including elk and mule deer between the Beaver <br />Creek Wilderness Study Area to the west and Fort Carson to the east. Dr. <br />Sanderson further testified that Hitch Rack Ranch is a critical connection point in a <br />four -hundred -square -mile conservation landscape. <br />34. Dr. Sanderson testified that the proposed mining operation would be <br />northeast of the Aiken Canyon Preserve. Dr. Sanderson testified that the Aiken <br />Canyon Conservation Area includes habitat for wildlife such as black bear, mule <br />deer, elk, mountain lions, bobcats, gray foxes, badgers, tuft -eared pine squirrels, <br />and more than one hundred species of birds. Dr. Sanderson testified that while six <br />hundred species of plants are located in the area, the reclamation plan of the <br />proposed mining operation identifies only twenty-two plant species. Dr. Sanderson <br />testified and presented an exhibit showing that wild turkeys inhabit the area, <br />including an area within Hitch Rack Ranch near Little Turkey Creek. <br />Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br />Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry/M-2016-010 <br />