2003-05-14_PERMIT FILE - M2003001

• Permit No: M2003001
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 5/14/2003
• Doc Name: Permit Application
• From: Hall-Irwin Corporation
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Savage and Savage
practical solutions for environmental problems
464 West Sumac Court
[.ouisville, Colorado 80027-2227
303 666-7372 telephone
303 665.6808 facsimile
November 25, 2002
Ari Cornman ,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Colorado Field Office
755 Parfet Street
Lakewood, Colorado 80215
Re: Request for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Disqualification for the
Nissen Farms Resource Site -Weld County, Colorado
Dear Mr. Cowman:
Savage and Savage is submitting this request for a Preble's meadow jumping mouse
(Zapus hudsonius preblei) disqualification concurrence on behalf of Hall-Irwin for the
Nissen Farms Resource site in Weld County, Colorado. The project will involve
development of the site for aggregate extraction with probable post-mining use as
municipal water storage.
The Nissen Farms resource site comprises approximately f25 acres contained in the S%z
of Section 12 in TSN, R67W of the 6's prime meridian in Weld County, Colorado. The
property is bounded on the north by the South Platte River and a flood control levee, the
east and south by property fence lines, and the west by Weld County Road 58. Currently,
the property has several ongoing land uses including a homestead, agriculture (row
crops), and oil and gas production. Adjacent land uses include oil and gas production,
agriculture, dairies, and grazing. The site is approximately 3.5 miles east of Greeley,
Colorado, east and north of Weld County Road 58. The project site is depicted on the
attached general location map.
Based on the USFWS May 21, 1999 survey requirements for 7.aptts hudsonius preblei,
this site needs to be considered for a survey as it is located within Weld County west of
For[ Morgan, Colorado below 7600 feet elevation.
Based on a field investigation conducted by Savage and Savage on November 21, 2002
and current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interim survey guidelines dated May 21, 1999,
we believe the Nissen Farms Resource site is exempt from the necessity to conduct a
Preble's meadow jumping mouse trapping survey and has very low potential to harbor
individuals or a population ofZapus hudsonius preblei for the following reasons.