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Transit Mix Co. <br /> breeding habitat, the most critical spotted owl habitat to protect, would be affected by the <br /> Quarry. Only six potential MSO breeding habitat sites were identified near the Quarry area, and <br /> suitable breeding for MSO's habitat is the limiting factor within the Project region (Johnson, <br /> 2017). None of these sites is located on the Ranch property. Most of the habitat within the <br /> study area consists of relatively shallow, southerly trending forested canyons or drainages that <br /> are not suitable for breeding MSOs, but may provide suitable habitat for transient, dispersing, or <br /> wintering individual MSOs. Between 100 and 200 acres of mixed-conifer forest would be <br /> removed during mining; roughly half would be eventually restored by post-mining reclamation. <br /> The area of transient foraging habitat affected would be less than 0.2% of the estimated extent <br /> of potential Mexican spotted owl foraging habitat in the region. There have already been <br /> significant developments in the Highway 115 corridor. Because the mine is in an area that has <br /> already been developed, the mine will have only an incremental effect on potential MSO. <br /> Mitigation Measures <br /> Based on discussions with USFWS and CPW, mitigation measures to protect wildlife have been <br /> developed and implemented to avoid or minimize wildlife impacts. These will include at least <br /> the following: <br /> • A noise study has been completed to measure ambient noise, and predict project noise <br /> levels and attenuation distances. The study found that no disturbance effects would <br /> occur to nearby Mexican Spotted Owl Potential Activity Center. as the PAC is <br /> approximately 1 8 miles to the north which provides significant noise attenuation to <br /> below background noise levels Also. MSO have nocturnal breeding and foraging habits <br /> when there will be no mining activity The limited hours of operation prevent noise <br /> impacts to MSO <br /> • The noise study also specifies that noise levels generally would not affect noise- <br /> sensitive wildlife such as nesting raptors beyond the permit area due to noise being <br /> attenuated to baseline levels <br /> • This existing noise study was prepared to estimate noise levels at the property <br /> boundary, and the results demonstrate that noise is limited to the areas of disturbance. <br /> Noise levels attenuate to permissible levels under Colorado Noise Law and El Paso <br /> County Ordinances within approximately 100 feet of running equipment. The site <br /> topography contains ridgelines near the property boundary, and these provide significant <br /> noise attenuation. Transit Mix plans to prevent the use of engine brakes without mufflers <br /> and to use low-impact backup alarms to limit noise from the operation <br /> • Nesting raptor surveys were completed in spring 2016 and 2017 covering the entire <br /> permit boundary plus a Y2 mile buffer on Ranch. Results of the surveys are included in <br /> this application. No active nests of diurnal raptors were found; in 2017 one long-eared <br /> owl nest was found. <br /> • No mining will occur within 100 feet of Little Turkey Creek besides construction <br /> necessary to create the reclamation channel discussed in Exhibits G and F. The only <br /> disturbances within the 100-foot setback are the discharge pipe from the Plant sediment <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application <br /> March 9,2018 H-6 <br />