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2019 Biological Resources Inventory Report <br /> 1 . Introduction <br /> Aggregate Industries (AI) is proposing to mine sand and gravel at the Tucson South Mine Project <br /> (Project) in Adams County, Colorado. The purpose of this report is to (1) provide a summary of local, <br /> state, and federal regulations that protect biological resources in Adams County; (2) document findings of <br /> the biological resources desktop analysis and field survey; and (3) provide recommendations for <br /> management of biological resources, including measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts, where <br /> necessary and practicable. <br /> 1.1 Project Description and Location <br /> The Project is located west of Brighton, Colorado, at the intersection of Tucson Road and Colorado <br /> Highway 7 in Sections 1 and 12 of Township 1 South, Range 67 West in Adams County. The Project area <br /> is divided by roads and parcel boundaries and is shown in Figures 1-4, attached. The total Project area is <br /> approximately 258 acres. Upon completion of mining, the site will be reclaimed as two below-grade water <br /> storage reservoirs and a reclaimed upland meadow. The Project will include the construction of temporary <br /> construction access roads, a slurry wall, gravel mining areas, and equipment storage areas. The Project <br /> is currently in the design phase and the final location of the Project features have not yet been defined. <br /> Therefore, for planning purposes, all of the Project area was evaluated for the presence of biological <br /> resources. <br /> The Project is expected to go through a review process by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); <br /> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; <br /> Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation; Colorado Department of Transportation; <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW); Colorado Division of Mining and Reclamation Safety (DRMS), and <br /> Adams County. Construction of the Project would begin after issuance of all necessary permits, which is <br /> currently anticipated as summer 2019. The Project would be developed over time and would operate <br /> indefinitely after the City of Aurora takes control of the site and operates the two reservoirs. <br /> A biological resources inventory and wetland delineations for the Project were performed on July 6 and 7, <br /> 2017. The results of the delineation are included in the Project Wetland Delineation Report (Tetra Tech <br /> 2019) and are not included herein. Due to layout changes since fieldwork was completed, the <br /> northernmost parcel has not been field surveyed for biological resources. Desktop analysis has been <br /> completed for the northernmost parcel. Because this parcel is part of a previously permitted and reviewed <br /> project and it is heavily disturbed, there are no anticipated additional impacts to biological resources at <br /> this location. <br /> 1.2 Regulatory Setting <br /> Several biological resources within the Project are protected by federal and state laws. The following <br /> subsections briefly describe these regulations and permitting processes where applicable. <br /> Tucson South Sand and Gravel Mine—Brighton, Colorado 1 <br />