REP33845

• Permit No: M1977208
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 9/16/2004
• Doc Name: Wildlife Resource Assessment Rpt
• From: DMG
• To: DOW
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Wildlife Resources Assessment
Cemex "C" Pit and CKD Disposal Site
Page 11
and favorable roost trees. In the absence of fish or waterfowl in the water at the bottom
of the pit, it is unlikely the eagles would attempt to use "C" Pit for foraging habitat.
The ferruginous hawk hunts in the prairie dog colonies, and would not be attracted to
the water in the pit. The jumping mouse, northern leopard frog and common garter
snake, if present, will use ripazian, aquatic and wetland habitat, but will have difficulty
gaining access to the water in the pit, since they will have to cross disturbed sites and
areas of unsuitable habitat devoid of security cover. Black-tailed prairie dogs will not
cross the steep slopes of CKD deposits, cross over the high walls, or be attracted to the
water. In summary, the probability that any of the species of concern will be attracted
to the water in the bottom of "C" Pit is low.
6.4 Impacts Analysis
'
The impacts analysis is based on the following assumptions:
' 1. The water in the bottom of "C" Pit has a PH of approximately 12.
2. No fish, aquatic invertebrates, or aquatic vegetation can live in water with a PH of
12. Therefore, there is no food source for wildlife in the bottom of the pit.
3. The bottom of the pit is surrounded by 30' tall high walls or tall steep slopes
comprised of disposed CKD (Photo Point 1). From the perspective of terrestrial
wildlife, the pit is therefore mostly isolated from surrounding habitat. There is one
' access road cut through a portion of the high wall on the south side of the pit that
allows approach by terrestrial wildlife.
' 4. The deepness of the pit isolates it from waterfowl that have low flight trajectories.
5. The cement plant operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week, and CKD is
disposed of regularly throughout each day.
6. "C" Pit is adjacent to the patio, where the Dowe Flats conveyor terminates, and
' loaders feed crushed rock into the processing system 24 hours per day.
7. Sprinklers and a water truck run on a regular cycle on a daily basis to water the
disposed CKD. (Factors 5-7 indicate that there are nearly continual operations in
' and near "C" Pit, creating constant disturbance.)
8. There is an abundance of easily accessible water for wildlife outside of "C" Pit,
much of it with security cover, in the analysis area. The water in the bottom of "C"
' Pit is not necessary or critical as a water source for wildlife.
9. Since the pit has been used as a CKD disposal site, no wildlife have been observed
' in the bottom of the pit during wildlife studies. Interviews with the quarry crew have
resulted with no other evidence of use of the pit bottom by wildlife. No injured or
dead wildlife have been found in the pit.
10. If wildlife comes into contact with the water in "C" Pit, injury or death is likely.
' The only wildlife known to use "C" Pit regularly are rock doves, also called pigeons, a
non-native species brought from Europe in the 1600's. Rock doves are raised as livestock
in some areas, in urban areas are sometimes considered a pest species, and are not
' protected by federal law. The rock doves in "C" Pit use the high wall for perching and