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<br />SEP-11-2003 THU 08 39 AM BANKS AND GESSO LLC FAX N0, 303 274 8329
<br />{v~'* o~,
<br />~ ~z~ United States Department of the Interior
<br />y
<br />_ F1SH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
<br />9FCq' ~0.a Ecological Services
<br />Colorado Field Office
<br />755 Parfet Street, Suite 361
<br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215
<br />TN REPLY REFER TO:
<br />ES/CO: TBtE/PMIM/Other
<br />Mail Stnp 65412
<br />SEP - 5 2003
<br />Allot Cmukeu
<br />Walsh Envirotuncntal, LLC
<br />4888 Pem'1 East Circle, Suite 108
<br />Boulder, Colorado 80301
<br />Dear Mr. Crockett:
<br />P, 02
<br />RECEIVED
<br />SEP 11 200
<br />Derision of Minerals & Geology
<br />8ustd un the authority conferred ro the L1.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Servit:e) by dte
<br />Endangered S~ pecies Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 er seq.), the Servtce
<br />reviewed the Preble's Ineuduw jumping mouse, Zltpus hudsunius preblei (Preble's), habitat
<br />nssesstnant and request for site disyuahficatinn submitted withyour report of August 22, 3003.
<br />77tis report re ands the proposed sitE ppltm review for the Heft Sand stud Gravel Mine Site
<br />northwest of~art T.upton in Weld Couury, Colorado.
<br />Based un tlrc information provided, and given your compliance with the Preble's survey
<br />euideliucs, the Service finds the re rt nocap[able and agrees [hat a po ulation of Preble's is not
<br />likely to be present within the sttbjeet area. 11tus, this stte is disqualified for Preble's consideration
<br />undar provistons of dte ESA. Should Preble's populations exist dowastreatn froth tha site, actiuus
<br />on the st[e dart result in sigttiticunt modifications of Preble's habitat downstream (for.exnmple,
<br />dtrouglt alteration of exrsttng flow regimes, or sedimentation) may be subject co provisions of t11e
<br />ESA.
<br />Additiuu:dly, die Service agrees that the proposed project should not have direct adverse affects co
<br />~opututious ut the following federally-listed tlueatened, endangered or special concern species:
<br />bald angle (Flaliaeerus letu'ucephalrrt9, Ute ladies'•tresses (Sprranthes dtluvialis), Colorado
<br />butterfly plan[ (Laura neomexuruna cola•adensis), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), burrowing
<br />owl (Speutyto cunicnlaria) and odter raptors (red-catled hawk, Swainson's hawk, Coeper's hawk,
<br />sharp-shintled hawk, American kestrel, great horned owl, long-cared owl, eastern screech owl), If
<br />u communal winter roost or nest site for bald eagles, or other raptors, is found on site or within the
<br />CROW cstubiisited Rutter zoae distances, please nonfq the Sarvice And follow recornntendutious
<br />for uvoidunue as provided in the assessmen[ repon.
<br />As the Meadow I51unt1 Duch Nu. 1 is connected to the Sou
<br />involves u federal ucsion and elements associu[ed wi[h exisr
<br />River system, fomwl section 7 consultation may be reyuiret
<br />habitat in the central Platte River in Nebraska. In general, t
<br />and/or consumptive use less return tlows. Project elements
<br />depletiutts to the Platte River system include, bu[ are not lu,
<br />(deteutioa/recrtation/irrigation storage), takes (recreacion/it
<br />storage/power generation), reservoirs (recrea[ion/itrigation
<br />generanou), pipelines, and water treottneut facilities.
<br />Platte River, if the proposed project
<br />or new depletions to the Place
<br />~r effects to listed species and critical
<br />tle[ions include evaporative losses
<br />at could be assoniu[ed with
<br />ed to, ponds
<br />[l'" a fomml section 7 consultation is required, the Service will make every effort to accotlmwdate
<br />the upplicmu's scktedulus to prevent project delays. If your office or the applic,~nt would hlce to
<br />discuss fire proposed project in relation to Plut[e River system depletive [sues in Colorado, please
<br />contact Sandy Vana-Miller of my staff ut (303) 275-2370.
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