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6.1.2 Wildlife <br />The final list of wildlife species evaluated for potential presence on the RPEE project site was <br />created by combining both the CPW list of state -listed species and the USFWS list of federally -listed <br />species, then filtering to include only those species documented by CPW, Natural Diversity <br />Information Source, as known to historically or presently occur in Gunnison County. Any state and <br />federally -listed wildlife species in Colorado that have not been documented to occur in Gunnison <br />County were not evaluated. In addition, to access the most site-specific species occurrence data <br />available, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) "Element Occurrences by QUAD" GIS <br />database was queried for listed species documented within the United States Geological Survey <br />(USGS) "Somerset" quadrangle and surrounding eight quadrangles. Because there is a greater pool of <br />knowledge of wildlife species distribution throughout the State of Colorado, as compared to what is <br />known about plants, the wildlife portion of the evaluation was somewhat stricter regarding <br />interpretation of documented species occurrences within Gunnison County. <br />As with the plant evaluation, a ranking system was developed to place a value on the likelihood of <br />wildlife species occurrence onsite. The definitions are similar, but applicable specifically to wildlife: <br />Some Likelihood: The project site is within the species' range and onsite habitat and elevation is <br />suitable for the species. The species is thought to be more common and/or occurs in a wider <br />range of habitats. <br />Unlikely: Very little possibility that individuals may occur in the project site. Known populations <br />occur in Gunnison County and the habitat and elevation are substantially appropriate for the <br />species. However, due to species rarity, it remains very unlikely that it would occur within the <br />project site. <br />Very Unlikely: Either known species populations are not identified to occur within Gunnison <br />County and/or the habitat and/or elevation is largely inappropriate for the species. <br />No Likelihood: The appropriate habitat and/or elevation does not exist on the project site and <br />known occurrences of the species are not within or adjacent to Gunnison County. It is <br />unreasonable to assume any likelihood for species occurrence onsite. <br />31 <br />P:\Mpls\06 CO\26\06261003 MCC Refuse Pile Site Review & Permit\WorkFiles\Permit Application\2014 Revision\Exhibit 82 2014-05- <br />29.docx <br />