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Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat Assessment <br /> Two Rivers Parcels-Varra Companies <br /> Weld County, Colorado <br /> result in "take" of a listed species, and application for an ITP under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA is not <br /> appropriate for the project. ERO has reviewed the guidance and completed the questionnaire to help <br /> decide on the need for an ITP (provided below). <br /> 1. Are there ESA listed species present in the area where your activity will occur or will they be <br /> present at some point in the duration of your activity? <br /> Answer: Unlikely. <br /> 2. Is it likely that any of these listed species will be exposed to your activities (or the results of your <br /> activity) during any of the various phases of your activity (construction, operation, maintenance, <br /> etc.)? <br /> Answer:No, all mining staging areas and processing would occur on previously disturbed <br /> agricultural areas. <br /> 3. Will that exposure likely result in any of the following actions to the listed species: pursuing, <br /> hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, capturing, or collecting or attempting to engage in any such <br /> conduct? <br /> Answer:No. <br /> 4. Is your activity likely to harass a listed species? <br /> • Will your activity,through an intentional or negligent act of omission, is likely to annoy the <br /> listed species to such an extent as to cause an injury to the species by significantly <br /> disrupting normal behavior patterns (e.g., breeding,feeding or sheltering, etc.). <br /> Answer:No, in the unlikely event that a Preble's occupies or travels through the area, the <br /> project has been designed to occur primarily in existing agricultural fields and all stream <br /> and riparian habitat would be avoided. <br /> 5. Is your activity likely to result in an act that actually injures or kills a listed species? <br /> Answer:No,see response to question 4. <br /> 6. Is your activity likely to harm a listed species through habitat modification (yes to all three <br /> questions below)? <br /> a) Is the activity likely to result in significant habitat modification or degradation?Answer: <br /> No, project activities would occur in existing agricultural fields and all stream and <br /> riparian habitat would be avoided. <br /> b) Will the modification or degradation significantly impair essential behavior patterns, <br /> including breeding,feeding, or sheltering? Answer:No, see response to question 4. <br /> c) As a result of a. and b. above, is it likely there will be an actual injury or death to a listed <br /> species? Answer:No. <br /> Conclusions <br /> No Preble's were found during the 2017 field survey. The known presence of Preble's approximately 1.5 <br /> miles from the project area along the South Platte River (Savage and Savage 2001) demonstrates that <br /> suitable habitat is present along the South Platte River in less disturbed areas further upstream. This <br /> suitable habitat consists of riparian areas with adjacent wet meadows. Dense shrub, grass, and forb <br /> ground cover along a reliable water source are also preferred by Preble's during the warm season. From <br /> ERO Project#21-266 10 <br /> -RO Resources Corporation <br />