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R;tR (,;ravel Flit #I a <br /> 9.0 Exhibit H — Wildlife Information <br /> 9.1 Significant Wildlife Resources on Affected Lands <br /> There are no significant wildlife resources on the Affected Lands, and minimal wildlife <br /> resources in the surrounding vicinity that area at risk of degradation as a result of the <br /> project. The site supports seasonal, low-level big game use, and typical use patterns of <br /> mesic shrublands and pasturelands. <br /> An aquatic resources report and wetland delineation was submitted to the USACE, along <br /> with a request for a Boundary Confirmation and verification letter. This Boundary <br /> Confirmation is provided in Attachment C, and confirms the accuracy of the wetland <br /> boundaries shown in this application. NO impact to wetlands that are jurisdictional under <br /> Section 404 of the Clean Water Act would occur; Scott's proposed development does not <br /> involve direct impact to jurisdictional wetlands, and is not a regulated activity under Section <br /> 404 of the Clean Water Act. <br /> 9.1.1 CPW and USFWS Input <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife and USFWS provided input on the Rifle Pit#1 project as part of <br /> the Garfield County Land Use Permitting referral agency process for the initial pit proposal. <br /> 9.2 Threatened / Endangered Species on Affected Lands <br /> Federally-listed and special status species have been previously addressed in this <br /> document, Section 4.5. In summary, there would be no effect to any federally-listed species. <br /> Figure 21, Exhibit H5 shows the overlap of potential occurrence with the project area, but <br /> as discussed in Section 4.5, there is no effective habitat for the species of concern in the <br /> vicinity, and/or no potential to affect nearby effective habitat. <br /> 9.3 Seasonal Wildlife Use of the Area <br /> The project occurs in mesic pastures adjacent to wet meadows and sparse riparian habitat <br /> within the Colorado River floodplain. The entire Permitted Area, and the large majority of the <br /> surrounding vicinity, has seen extensive development activities associated with grazing <br /> management (trenching, disking, irrigation, and fence construction), oil and gas <br /> development (roads, pad construction, ongoing field operations), and aggregate mining <br /> (excavation, processing, transport and sales). Surrounding wildlife habitats are already <br /> significantly disturbed. Animal species that are tolerant of, or habituate to, human activity <br /> persist in the area, and use the property on an intermittent and seasonal basis. The level of <br /> human disturbance is sufficiently great to preclude permanent occupancy of the parcel by <br /> wildlife species of concern. <br /> The area is seasonally used by the following species (based on CPW& COGCC RSO/SWH <br /> habitat data): <br /> • Bald Eagle (Winter Forage, Winter Range) <br /> • Elk (Severe Winter Range, Overall Range) <br /> • Mule Deer(Resident Population Area, Severe Winter Range, Winter Concentration <br /> Area, Winter Range, Overall Range) <br /> • Wild Turkey (Winter Concentration Area, Winter Range, Overall Range) <br /> Figure 17, Exhibit H1 through Figure 20, Exhibit H5 depict the CPW wildlife habitat. <br /> 53 <br />