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<br />IN REPLY REFER TO:
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<br />MAILING A.DDRESS:
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<br />1'0.' Offi<< 80s 25486
<br />~"~r Fednul Ccnt.v
<br />[),,,wr, ~ 80225
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<br />S fREET LOCA. TION:
<br />134 UNO" Blvd.
<br />LoJwwood. CokmJdo 80228
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<br />United States Department of the Interior
<br />FISH AND WILDUFE SERVICE
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<br />FWE
<br />MAIL STOP 60120
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<br />OCT 25 1991
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<br />Memorandum
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<br />To: Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado
<br />Regional Office, Salt Lake City, Utah
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<br />From:
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<br />Regional Director, Region 6 ./
<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
<br />Denver, Colorado
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<br />Fina1~i010giCa1 opinio~for the Animas-La Plata Project,
<br />Colorado and New Mexico
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<br />Subject:
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<br />INTRODUCTION
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<br />1
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<br />The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), after its February 6, 1990,
<br />determination that the Animas-La Plata Project (Project) may affect the
<br />endangered Colorado squawfish, reinitiated Section 7 cDnsu1tation and provided
<br />the Fish and Wildlife Service with an update of the biological assessment of
<br />Project impacts on the Colorado squawfish. On February 15, 1990, the Service
<br />concurred with Reclamation's determination that the Project "may affect" the
<br />endangered Colorado squawfish, and also advised it of our ongoing review of
<br />potential Project effects on listed plants and terrestrial wildlife. Upon
<br />conclusion of that review, the Service and Reclamation jointly determined that,
<br />based on new information, the proposed Project also "may affect" bald eagles.
<br />Subsequently, on March 2, 1990, Reclamation provided the Service with an
<br />updated biological assessment and a draft management plan for bald eagles. No
<br />new information existed regarding the peregrine falcon, nor were there any
<br />listed plant species within the area impacted by the Project; therefore,
<br />additional species have not been included in the updated consultation, In a
<br />letter dated March 4, 1991, Reclamation requested a conference on the razorback
<br />sucker for the Project. The Service issued a draft Conference Opinion dated
<br />March 21, 1991, that addresses the razorback sucker, a species proposed for
<br />listing as endangered on May 22, 1990. In a memorandum dated April 15, 1991,
<br />Reclamation concurred with the draft Conference Opinion and recommended that it
<br />be incorporated into the final Biological Opinion for the Animas-La Plata
<br />Project. A final rule to list the razorback sucker as endangered was published
<br />in the October 23, 1991, Federal Reaister and will go into effect 30 days
<br />thereafter. By letter dated June 6, 1991, Reclamation requested extension of
<br />consultation to June 21, 1991. The Service agreed to the extension by letter
<br />dated June 14, 1991.
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