MOU23L161331 Vulcan NC Quarries - Bat Coordination Memo 12012023

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MEMORANDUM
TO: Tony Johnson Jr.,Vulcan Materials Company
FROM: Lisa Daugherty, Kleinfelder
DATE December 1, 2023
SUBJECT: Seasonal Tree Clearing—Vulcan Materials Company North Carolina Quarries
Kleinfelder, Inc. (Kleinfelder)contacted the United States Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS)Ashville North
Carolina Field office in July 2023 to request information on the any existing grey bat hibernacula in the
vicinity of the Vulcan Quarries in North Carolina. The USFWS responded on July 31, 2023 and indicated
there are no known gray bat hibernacula in North Carolina; however, they do have active season roosts.
Additionally, the USFWS requested that a formal request for coordination including PDF maps of the
Vulcan Quarries in North Carolina be submitted for review by the department.
On August 1, 2023, Kleinfelder, Inc. (Kleinfelder) submitted a request for informal consultation to the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Ashville North Carolina Field office to obtain information
on any known bat hibernacula or maternity roosting sites on-site or within proximity to nine (9) of the 19
Vulcan Materials Company quarries located in North Carolina.The request was limited to only the quarries
that overlap with the range of the gray bat, Indiana bat or Northern Long-Eared Bat. The 9 quarries
included in this request were: 115 Quarry, Boone Quarry, Elkin Quarry, Enka Quarry, Hendersonville
Quarry, Lenoir Quarry, Morgantown Quarry, Penrose Quarry and Spruce Quarry. Additionally, this
informal consultation request, requested guidance from the USFWS on seasonal tree clearing restrictions
in associated with listed bat species.
The USFWS provided an initial response via email on August 8, 2023 indicating that the nine (9) quarries
are listed within the range of one (1) or more listed bat species (or proposed for listing bat species).
Coordination with the USFWS continued throughout August 2023. On August 25, 2023 Rebekah Reid of
the USFWS Ashville Ecological Services Field Office provided an excel table for the nine (9) quarries that
were included in the consult request. The information in the excel table included IPaC species, element
occurrences within 2 miles of each quarry, bat buffers for the Indiana Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat and
the Tricolored bat, if applicable,as well if the quarry is located within the inner of outer tier of the seasonal
bat range/buffer, if applicable, as well as any available consult notes.
Based on review of the information from the USFWS only the following quarries have element occurrences
within 2 miles, or are located within buffers for listed bat species:
• Boone Quarry
• Hendersonville
24001773.001A I MOU231-161331 Page 1 of 2 December 1, 2023
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Based on the information provided by the USFWS and follow up coordination, Kleinfelder prepared a Tree
Clearing Summary Table (attached).
The generally accepted winter tree clearing period of November 15 to March 31 based on the
understanding that cave obligate bats will be using hibernacula in the winter, and thus will not be roosting
within trees during this seasonal time period. For example, guidance associated with the Indiana Bat is
used to support this clearing timeframe.Two sources that reference the seasonal clearing timeframe are
the "Range-wide Indiana Bat Protection and Enhancement Plan (PEP) Guidelines for Surface Coal-Mining
Operations" (July 2009, revised February 2013, Protection and Enhancement Plan Guidelines: (fws.gov))
and the Indiana Bat Template for Cole Mine Projects (July 22, 2022, Indiana Bat PEP Template for Coal
Mining Projects 07222022 1 FWS.gov). Additionally, the Ashville North Carolina Field office concurred
with the ability to seasonally clear trees between November 15 and March 31.
24001773.001A I MOU231-161331 Page 2 of 2 December 1, 2023
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VMC-NC Bat Tree Clearing Activity Windows by Month
VMC-NC Quarry Listed Species Present January February March April May June July August September October November December
Boone* MYSE,COTO, MYGR, PESO Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Sept 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Cabarrus* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
Clear Creek* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
East Forsyth* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oc v Dec
Elkin* MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar May Jun Jul Aug Sept 14 N Dec
15-Nov
Enka* MYSE, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Gold Hill* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
Greystone* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
Hendersonville* MYSE, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Lenoir* MYSE,COTO, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Morganton* MYSE, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar May Jun Jul Aug SePL r, 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
North* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
Penrose* MYSE, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug SPn` Oct 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Pineville* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept ULI Nov Dec
Rockingham* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept - Nov Dec
Smith Grove* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
Spruce* MYSE, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept 14-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Stokesdale* PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Nov Dec
115 Quarry* MYSE, MYGR, PESU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 4-Nov Dec
15-Nov
Listed Species: Northern Long-Eared Bat (MYSE), Virginia Big-Eared Bat (COTO), Gray Bat (MYGR), Tricolored Bat (PESU)*
* Denotes the Tricolored bat is present; Species is currently Proposed Endangered; Upon completion of the USFWS species status review, the requirements for these
quarries may need to be revisited following USFWS listing status
Tree clearing activities permitted without any further coordination with USFWS or consequences
Tree clearing activities could potentially be conducted, however further coordination with USFWS will be required; Additional surveys may also be required following
coordination
Tree clearing activities are NOT permitted during the pup season; If VMC wishes to proceed with conducting tree clearing activities during this time frame, further
coordination with USFWS will be required; An additional survey WILL be warranted, and USFWS approval of the findings WILL be needed PRIOR to commencement of
the activties
Contact Information:
Kristen Bell
Kleinfelder Senior Ecologist
[phone]
[e-mail]
Sue Cameron Gary Jordan
USFWS Fish and Wildlife Biologist Fish and Wildlife Biologist
[phone] [phone] ext. 32
Asheville Ecological Services Field Office Eastern North Carolina Ecological Services Field Office