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Topaz Mine Permit Expansion: Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Evaluation <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />International Uranium Corporation (IUC) currently operates the Topaz Mine in Big Gypsum <br />Valley, San Miguel County, Colorado, to produce vanadium and uranium ore. The mine is <br />operated under a 110 Permit (Hard Rock Limited Impact) from the Colorado Department of <br />Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS). IUC proposes to <br />expand operations at the Topaz Mine, which will require a DRMS 112 Permit (Hard Rock <br />Regular Operations). The proposed 112 permit area is an expansion of approximately 2.37 <br />acres from the currently permitted area (1.47 acres north and 0.9 acres south of the existing 110 <br />permit, Figure 1). Site disturbance in the proposed expansion area would include clearing of <br />vegetation and grading. The proposed expansion area encompasses public land administered <br />by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). DRMS and BLM must authorize the IUC Plan of <br />Operations, and BLM and DRMS are required to identify and evaluate the potential impacts of <br />the authorization on threatened, endangered, and sensitive species. <br />This report identifies and evaluates the potential effects of the proposed permit expansion on <br />species federally listed as threatened, endangered, or candidates for listing under the <br />Endangered Species Act and species designated by BLM as sensitive in Colorado. <br />2.0 PROCEDURES <br />BIO-Logic Environmental (BIO-Logic) personnel (see Section 8.0) visited the site on November <br />10, 2006 with IUC Geologist Jon Showalter. We assessed biological resources in the permit <br />expansion area with the aid of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5' topographic map and <br />USGS digital color aerial photographs taken in summer 2005. We Took reference photographs, <br />and mapped photopoints and other features with a Global Positioning System (GPS) Garmin E- <br />trex with typical accuracy of +/- 15 to 20 feet. <br />Plants were identified on site following Weber and Wittmann (2001) and Whitson (1996). The <br />state noxious weed list was reviewed through the Colorado Department of Agriculture (2006) <br />website. Wildlife habitats were determined by site observations, interviews, and digital data <br />from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). Standard zoological references were examined <br />including Hammerson (1999) for reptiles and amphibians, Andrews and Righter (1992) and <br />Kingery (1998) for birds, and Fitzgerald et al. (1994) for mammals. <br />3.0 PROJECT SITE DESCRIPTION <br />The project site lies in the southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 44 North, Range 18 West <br />of the 6'" Principal Meridian. The town of Basin is approximately 17 miles to the west and <br />Naturita is about 18 miles to the north. The project area lies on the north slope of the low ridge <br />to the south of Big Gypsum Valley. Slopes are gradual at the north end of the project area and <br />moderate at the south end near the mine. Elevations range from approximately 5,600 to 5,700 <br />feet (Figure 1). Sedimentary sandstones and shales of the Morrison and Dakota Formations <br />form the underlying bedrock of the area. Soils are fairly thin and stony, derived from colluvium <br />of the underlying sedimentary strata. <br />B/O-Logic Environmental 4 <br />March 27, 2007 <br />