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AV BIO-Logic <br /> Natural Resource Consultants <br /> SUMMARY <br /> Transit Mix Concrete Co. (Transit Mix) is proposing to develop a granite quarry on the Hitch Rack Ranch <br /> property in rural El Paso County, Colorado. As part of environmental due diligence, in June 2017,a <br /> nesting raptor survey was conducted of the quarry site and access road, including all Hitch Rack Ranch <br /> lands within ''/2 mile of the quarry site and access road. A single nesting raptor was located; a long-eared <br /> owl was found on a nest in an intermittent drainage south of Little Turkey Creek. <br /> Suitable raptor nesting habitat in the area of the quarry site is primarily in taller forest stands of mixed <br /> conifer, ponderosa pine,and cottonwood riparian stands along Little Turkey Creek. Cliff-nesting habitat <br /> is marginal for raptors because of the small size of the rock outcrops and the lack of suitable ledges and <br /> overhangs. <br /> PURPOSE AND NEED <br /> As part of environmental due diligence for project planning and permitting, Transit Mix hired BIO-Logic, <br /> Inc. (BIO-Logic)to conduct a nesting raptor survey of the project area. Raptors are protected under the <br /> Migratory Bird Treaty Act and eagles are further protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection <br /> Act. These federal laws prohibit killing or harming raptors, including knowingly interfering with <br /> reproduction. Raptors can be sensitive to human disturbance during the nesting period and may abandon <br /> nests if disturbance is excessive. Identifying active raptor nest sites on the quarry site will facilitate the <br /> identification of potential impacts to raptors and allow for the development of mitigation measures if <br /> needed. <br /> PROJECT AND SITE DESCRIPTION <br /> The Hitch Rack Ranch is privately owned and encompasses about 1,432 acres,of which approximately <br /> 401 acres on the north side of the property was surveyed. The survey area lies within the Mount Big <br /> Chief U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) 7.5 minute quadrangles, in Township 16 S,Range 67 W, Section <br /> 16. Elevation ranges from 7,000 to 7,720 feet in the survey area. <br /> Transit Mix proposes to construct and operate a quarry for granite and diabase aggregate rock on the <br /> northwest part of the Ranch, in that part of Section 16 south of Little Turkey Creek. The project would <br /> include construction of the rock quarry and processing plant, stockpiles for topsoil and rock fines from <br /> processing, and a new access road across the Ranch. The total area of disturbance would be about 239 <br /> acres, and the expected life of the mine is approximately 40 years. Mining would proceed in five phases, <br /> with contemporaneous reclamation occurring as portions of the quarry are completed. At the conclusion <br /> of mine operations the plant would be removed, and all disturbed areas including the access road would <br /> be reclaimed including revegetation. <br /> ---- — ---------------- <br /> 3 <br />