2025-03-14_PERMIT FILE - M2025016 (36)

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// PAGE 2 EXHIBIT H Raptor Materials, LLC Cogburn Sand, Gravel, and Reservoir Project February 2025 A Regular Impact (112) Construction Permit Application – Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, Office of Mined Land Reclamation breeding range for eastern black rails and does not consider the South Platte River drainage within the black rail’s breeding range. Based on current knowledge of the black rail’s distribution, there would be no effects on the species, and no further action is necessary. Best Management Practices (BMPs), Voluntary Conservation Measures and recommendations discussed with ERO will be implemented to further minimize the risk of harm to T&E and other wildlife. These measures include:  Work areas will be stabilized in a manner to prevent or minimize soil erosion.  The operator will protect the surrounding area and, from siltation. The Contractor will utilize well- established NRCS storm water and erosion management measures to control erosion, as necessary.  All temporarily disturbed areas will be reseeded with native seed mix as specified in the mine plan. The mine plan states that the “Primary Revegetation Seed Mixture combines a thoughtful mingling of predominantly native grasses of diverse height, form, color and function, to add cover, food source for wildlife and pollinators.”  The project will implement mine-site reclamation consisting of reseeding with native grasses and pollen producing species.  Trees along the lower terrace of the watercourses will be preserved where possible.  All riverine areas will otherwise remain untouched.  All mining areas, access routes, staging areas, and work areas will all be outside riparian areas.  The project will avoid fragmenting linear riparian corridors.  The project will avoid disturbing (e.g., crushing or trampling) or removing (e.g., cutting or clearing) all vegetation, such as willows, trees, shrubs, and grasses in riparian areas.  Impacts to all riparian habitat consisting of shrubs, grasses, and forbs will be avoided or minimized to maintain current vegetation communities and allow for habitat connectivity to habitat upstream and downstream.  Mining areas will predominantly occur with existing areas of human disturbance such as agricultural cropland, grazed pastures and roads.  Minimum 100-foot buffers will be established between planned disturbance and the bankfull river/riparian corridor.  Traffic will be limited to existing roads and bridges to the degree possible.  Noise and dust levels for the project are regulated under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. These measures are sufficient to reduce and minimize noise and dust impacts to wildlife. BIG GAME ERO reviewed data from CPW map databases and determined Mule Deer Migration Corridors and Severe Winter Range high priority habitat (HPH) areas overlap the project area. Raptor Materials per recommendation from ERO will consult with the local CPW district manager to discuss the management practices outlined below to minimize impact to Mule Deer, including potentially restricted activity in identified corridors and winter range from December 1 to April 30 should there be a need to supplement the proposed management practices. Aggregate mining in general is a slow, steady progression of mining within active cells. While the cells vary in size, the area actively being extracted will be generally 8 to 16 acres in size. The active extraction area will advance through the cells with concurrent reclamation taking place in the previous cell and where possible in the active cell. This incremental approach will retain open areas and opportunities for wildlife movement and foraging within unmined areas during the life of the mine noting that proposed extraction areas occupy