2004-09-29_REVISION - M1999120 - Laserfiche WebLink

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04004 Banks and Gesso, LLC Wright Water Engineers, Inc. 2490 Wes[26m Ave. Scnte 1004 oert.~er, cdoraao ¢oz i I Ma 27, 2004 (303J 480J 700 TEL y 13031 4¢01020 FAX Via U.S. Mail Mr. Peter Plage U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 755 Parfet St., Ste. 361 Lakewood, CO 80215 Re: Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Disqualification for the Fort Lupton Proposed Expansior Area (S %NWY. of Section 30, Township 2 North, Range 66 West, Weld County, Colorado) Deaz Pete: On behalf of L.G. Everist, Inc. and Andesite Rock Company (I..G. Everist}, Wright W Engineers, Inc. (WWE) requests concurrence on disqualification for the Preble's meal jumping mouse (PMJM) at the Fort Lupton proposed expansion site. The existing mine site disqualified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on September 3, 1999. (See enclosed disqualification request and USFWS acceptance letter.} L.G. Everist proposes to expand the existing mine site north and west to include an additional approximately 190 acres of mineral extraction and reclamation (sand and gravel) operations. (See Figure 1.) The operation will entail removal and stockpiling of topsoil material, extraction of the sand and gravel, and creation of water storage reservoirs long-term. The mining and reclamation plan will be reviewed and approved by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology in the next few months. Prior to finalizing the mining and reclamation plan, L.G. Everist would like to evaluate the future mineral extraction areas for potential impacts to the federally threatened PMJM (Zapus hudsonius preblerr7. The, USFWS' May 2.1, 1999 interim survey guidelines indicate that the project area requires a survey for the following reasons: the elevation of the site is below 7,600 feet (the project site's elevation is between 4,770 and 4,780 feet), and i[ is located within and adjacent to the 100-year floodplain of the South Platte River. Based on field investigations conducted by WWE and the Colorado Division of Wildlife {CDOW) on March 17, 2004 as well as reference and literature review (see enclosed Colorado Natural Heritage Program report), we believe that this site has very low potential for harboring individuals or a population of the PMJM for the following reasons. The project site (Figure 1) and adjacent azeas have been highly disturbed and modified from their natural condition (Photographs 1 and 2). The project area has been cultivated for a number of years. Oil rigs and access roads are totaled throughout the property. A chariot racetrack is located in the western farm field. Little Dry Creek and an irrigation delivery ditch bisect the property from south to north. The drainages aze dominated by a thick monoculture of reed caztazygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) and cattail (Typha latifolia), and the banks aze cleazed for GLEN WOOD SPRINGS DURANGO 1970) 9457755 TEL 19701 9459210 FA% 19701 259-791 I TEL 1970) 259E758 FA% Fort Lupton Sand and Gravel Mine - L.G. Everist, Inc. September 20, 2004 Amendment to Permit No M-1999-120 Page 23