2022-04-04_PERMIT FILE - M2022013 (33)

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Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat Assessment Two Rivers Parcels - Varra Companies Weld County, Colorado March 14, 2022 Introduction Varra Companies, Inc. retained ERO Resources Corporation (ERO)to prepare an evaluation for federally listed threatened and endangered species in an area proposed for aggregate mining. in Weld County, Colorado (project area). The project area occurs near the confluence of the Little Thompson and South Platte Rivers (Figure 1). This evaluation is the culmination of site evaluations in 2017 (ERO 2018), 2020 (ERO 2020), and 2021 and includes the results of a presence/absence survey for Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei or Preble's) completed and previously submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in 2017 (ERO 2018). ERO wildlife biologists Ron Beane and Milu Velardi conducted presence/absence surveys for Preble's from September 11 through 15, 2017 (2017 field survey). Project Description The proposed project is an aggregate mining operation consisting of scraping and stockpiling topsoil and mining sand, gravel, and other aggregate materials from a series of mining cells in the project area. Mining would occur in phases in the individual cells. All mining would be restricted to current agricultural fields and no mining or mine operations would occur within 100 feet of the bankfull stage of the Little Thompson River or South Platte River. Aggregate processing would occur north of the Evans Town Ditch that parallels the Little Thompson River. An overhead conveyor would transport mined material from the mining cells to the processing area. No wetlands or waters of the U.S. would be impacted by the proposed project. Federal Nexus There is no federal nexus associated with this project. The mine plan has been specifically designed to avoid all wetlands and waters of the U.S., including access, processing, and staging areas. Project Area Description The project area is in portions of Sections 33 and 34,Township 5 North, Range 66 West, and Sections 3 and 4,Township 4 North, Range 66 West of the 6t" Principal Meridian in Weld County, Colorado (Figure 1). The UTM coordinates of the approximate center of the project area are NAD 83 519043mE, 4466286mN, Zone 13N. The longitude/latitude of the project area is 104.775771°W/40.346911°N. The elevation of the project area is approximately 4,686 feet above sea level. Photos of the project area are in Appendix A. ERO Project#21-266 1 -RO Resources Corporation