2019-04-26_PERMIT FILE - M2019018

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To: 'DR MFt Den Page 8 of 10 2019-04-26 17:31:38(GMT) 13032008630 From: Ben Langenfeld ENT OR Tye LLk% 111SIX&WH"9IM IFIC za SIMVI United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Colorado Ecological Services IN REPLY RUM FO Front Range: Western slope. FWS/MiES CO Post Office Box 25486 445 W.Gunnison Avenue RECEIVED Mail Stop 65412 Suite 240 Denver,Colorado 80225-0486 Gravid Junction.Colorado 81501-5711 TAILS 06E24 100-20 19-TA-0 167 APR 2 62019 DMSION OF RECLAWT10,4 February 15, 2019 OP6 MINING AND SAFETYBen Langenfeld, P.E. Greg Lewicki and Associates 3375 W Powers Circle Littleton. CO 8012') Dear Mr. Langenfeld. Thank you for reaching out to 'ferry Ireland of my staff in your January 18, 2019, e-mail regarding the proposed Best Rock Sand and Gravel Pit I (also known as the Graff Pit 2). Also thank You for providing the Colorado Parks and Wildlife(CPW) letter that was sent to you on January 2,2019,and sending maps of the proposed project in your January 29,2019,email. You have reached out to us based on a recommendation from CPW and. in expectation of the Colorado Division of Reclamation,Mining, and Safety permitting the gravel pit and likely requesting our input for their determination that the pit will not affect federally threatened or endangered species. The proposed gravel pit is on.the northwest side of Delta, Colorado.at the Uncompahgre and Gunnison River confluence. The Uncompahgre River forms the eastern boundary of the property and the Gunnison River forms the northern and west side of the property. The project will take place entirely within existing agricultural fields. The current plans call for the property to be split in two,with about a 70-acre pit on the west side(which will be mined first)and an 87- acre pit on the cast side. Post-mining gravel pit ponds filled frorn groundwater are expected to be about 64 acres on the west side and 8 1 acres on the east side. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(Service) supports CPW's reclamation recommendations and their avoidance,minimization, and mitigation recommendations provided in their January 2" letter. One of CPW's recommendations was to talk to the Service about the threatened yellow- billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)as well as the endangered Colorado River fishes, On February 1.1, 201.9,Mr. Ireland talked to the landowner, Mr. Jared Graff about the cuckoo and endangered fishes. According to Mr. Graff, and supported by provided maps, there will be no direct impact to riparian habitat that may support the cuckoo. Equipment will access the pr(iject area using the existing road on the southern border of'the property. Based on maps of the proposed project,riparian habitat will be avoided by at least 100 feet. According to Mr. Graff a newer and relatively quiet rock crusher will be placed in the first pit in the southwest corner of