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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6. 7-202 Wildlife Standards _Storage use_ MASTER_rev_compiled Consultants in Natural Resources and the Environment Denver 1842 Clarkson St. Denver, CO 80218 303.830.1188 Boise 3314 Grace St. Boise, ID 83703 208.373.7983 Durango 1015 ½ Main Avenue Durango, CO 81301 970.422.2136 Western Slope P.O. Box 932 161 South 2nd St. Hotchkiss, CO 81419 970.872.3020 www.eroresources.com ERO Resources Corp. March 20, 2014 Katy Middleton Blue Sky Permitting and Planning, LLC 9321 54 Road Mesa, CO 81643 (Email-delivered) RE: Wildlife Health Standards Analysis OXY Pond 10 (Storage Use) Dear Ms. Middleton, This memo transmits ERO Resources Corporation’s (ERO) analysis of wildlife health standards in relation to proposed modifications to OXY USA WTP LP (Oxy) Pond 10 storage areas in the Grand Valley Field in Garfield County, Colorado. ERO surveyed the project area on April 24, 2013. The pond and storage areas are located approximately 10 miles north of DeBeque, Colorado. Location and Existing Conditions For the purposes of the proposed project, the survey area was defined as a uniform 0.5 mile surrounding the existing project envelope (Figure 1). The legal description of the approximate center of the project area is Sections 5 and 8, T7S, R97W of the 6th PM; UTM NAD 83 Zone 12N, 737050m Easting, 4372373m Northing; Latitude, Longitude: 39.468305°N, -108.244193°W; USGS Red Pinnacle, CO Quadrangle. Oxy is the surface owner. Currently, the site supports three storage areas in the vicinity of an existing waste water evaporation pond. Construction materials, construction equipment, assorted production equipment including separators, tanks, piping, and valves, and shipping containers are stored onsite. No liquids currently are stored in the storage sites. Page 2 Photo 1. Looking northeast from Conn Creek Road toward Storage Areas 1 and 2 from Conn Creek Riparian area (Riparian area would not be disturbed) (4.24.13). Photo 2. Looking west; Storage Area 3 at photo center and existing disturbed vegetation community in foreground (4.24.13). Proposed Project Oxy proposes to upgrade the existing site with the following modifications to the existing storage areas: 1. Storage Area 1, install swale and sediment trap; 2. Storage Area 2, install swale and sediment trap and minor regrading; and 3. Storage Area 3, raise grade to level of existing pond access; improve access ramp and incorporate with new grade; install retention pond. Oxy plans to beginning grading on or about May 1, with about 10 to 12 weeks required for construction and an additional 2 weeks for site clean-up. Changes to truck traffic for purposes of storage would be minimal. Benign materials such as construction materials, construction equipment, assorted production equipment to include separators, tanks, piping, and valves, and shipping containers that do not Page 3 present a potential threat to wildlife would be stored onsite. No liquids would be stored in the storage sites. Setting Pond 10 and associated storage areas are in a valley bottom at an approximate elevation of 5,800 feet above sea level (Figure 2). The existing pond location and parking/access/storage areas consist of graveled and maintained surfaces with minimal to no vegetation. These developed areas are immediately surrounded by sagebrush- steppe habitat. Cliff and cottonwood riparian habitat occur within 0.25 mile of the project area. The sagebrush-steppe habitat is dominated by sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata sp.), primarily along the eastern project area boundary. Dominant vegetation in the Pond 10 project area is listed in Table 1. Table 1. Vegetation observed near Pond 10. Common Name Scientific Name Sagebrush Artemisia tridentata sp. Saltbush Atriplex spp. Cheat grass Bromus tectorum Gambel’s oak Quercus gambelii Wheatgrasses Thinopyrum spp. Rye Elymus spp. Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Wildlife Habitat Standards Buffers Proposed site modifications will not significantly alter the existing visual and sound buffers. The site’s topographic position in the valley bottom limits the visibility and sound transmittal to surrounding areas. Existing site screening is provided by riparian vegetation along Conn Creek, which will not be disturbed. Locational Controls of Land Disturbance Surface disturbance from proposed grading activities is not anticipated to change animal migration corridors, predation dynamics, and/or animal-vehicle collisions. Site conditions and activities would remain very similar to current conditions. Preservation of Native Vegetation Grading activities would occur entirely in previously disturbed areas. Oxy will adhere to their Noxious Weed Management Plan for all project activities. Habitat Compensation Proposed site modifications are not anticipated to require habitat compensation. Although the project area is mapped as Sensitive Wildlife Habitat (Mule Deer Severe Winter Range), all impacts would occur to existing disturbed areas lacking vegetation. Page 4 Domestic Animal Control Domestic animals and livestock are currently not allowed within the project area; therefore, no domestic animals will be impacted by the proposed site modifications. Please feel free to contact me at (970) 872-3020 or apowers@eroresources.com if you have any questions. Sincerely, Aleta Powers Principal, Natural Resource Specialist Project Area Prepared for: OxyFile: 5449 Figure 1.mxd [GS]March 2014 ± Figure 1Site LocationOxy Pond 10 Portions of this document include intellectual property of ESRI and its licensors and are used herein under license. Copyright © 2012 ESRI and its licensors. All rights reserved. 02,0001,000 Feet COLORADO Location Sections 5 and 8, T7S, R97W; 6th PM UTM NAD 83: Zone 12N; 737050mE, 4372373mNLatitude, Longitude: 39.468305°N, 108.244193°WUSGS Red Pinnacle, CO QuadrangleGarfield County, Colorado Prepared for: OxyFile: 5449 Figure 2.mxd [GS]March 2014 ± Figure 2Project AreaOxy Pond 10 0200100 Feet Project Area Image Source: USDA NAIP, 2013