REP42775

• Permit No: M1991035
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 12/31/1994
• Doc Name: WILDLIFE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH WESTERN AGGREGATES INC BLUESTONE & SECTION 16 MINIGN PROPOSALS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Bluestone and Section 16 Wildlife Issua Report Western Aggrcgata, Inc.
' waterfowl[,] and other wildlife..:', and certainly not that portion on Section 16. We all know
wetlands and riparian habitats can support some of the highest wildlife diversities of any
' habitats. Wetlands may also support other high intrinsic values (e.g., uncommon vegetation,
open water, groundwater recharge, surface water filtering, etc.). However, all wetlands are
not creal ed equal. Just because a wetland is a wetland, doesn't mean it supports remarkable
wildlife values. On Section 16, Smart Ditch supports a narrow, flanking community with only
low wildlife values.
Furtherrnore, use of this ditch is not required for present agricultural management on
Section .l6 or further down the ditch. An alternative ditch is available for use. Smart Ditch
' could be shut off indefinitely or lined. Either option would result in the uncompensated loss
of present wetlands vegetation, whether these wetlands are jurisdictional or not.
Regardless, wildlife values associated with this unlined ditch would only be temporarily lost
for proposed time required to relocate and reclaim the ditch (with live topsoil handling from
' the present wetland) around the Section 16 mining area. As a result, the herbaceous
wetlands community, whatever its wildlife values, would be restored and flows would
continue to support down gradient hydrology and vegetative communities.
' 4.5 USDOE ECOLOGICAL MONITORING STATIONS
' The ecological monitoring program is a USDOE mandated program that assesses the
structure and function of various ecological endpoints at the RFP Plant (RFP). This is
accomplished through the collection of ecological data "layers" from 12 permanent sampling
points at the RFP.

1
1
Three of these sampling sites are in the Rock Creek drainage. One site, TROT, a xeric site
on top of the pediment, is within the boundaries of the proposed Bluestone mining area.
The other 2 sites are down gradient of the mining area, but concern is that they would be
indirectly affected by any alteration of the hydrologic regime.
Western Aggregates will commit to postponing mining within 300 feet of site TROT until
January 1, 2005 to permit the collection of 10 years of baseline data at TROT and at a
replacement site for TROT. The down gradient sites would not be directly or indirectly
affected ley mining, as described in section 4.1 Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse.
Several sites are also located east of the proposed Section 16 mining area. One site, TR12,
occurs approximately 525 feet east the proposed eastern mining boundary. The remaining
sites occur down gradient where there is concern that future data collection would be biased
by indirect mining effects. Site TR12 is far enough away from proposed mining activity that
Western Ecosystems, Inc 23 December, 1994