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Highbury Resources, Inc. DOE Uranium Leases 7 <br /> Environmental Review <br /> • The southern-most feature (JD-9 Portal) of the JD Lease is within 1.0 mile of designated critical <br /> habitat for the Gunnison's sage-grouse, while the access road leading to the site is along the <br /> northern boundary of the critical habitat (USFWS 2014). Habitat on the JD-9 portal is primarily <br /> pinyon juniper abutting steep rock outcrops. Any sagebrush at or near the site is patchy and <br /> unlikely sage-grouse habitat. <br /> Of all the feature sites, only the JD-9 Water Treatment site abuts sagebrush shrubland habitat that <br /> could provide nesting sites for sage-grouse. The site is on the edge between the sagebrush and <br /> pinyon juniper habitats. Potential timing stipulations may be needed at that site. <br /> 5.1.4 Mexican Spotted Owl <br /> Spotted owls are residents of old-growth or mature forests that possess complex structural <br /> components (uneven aged stands, high canopy closure, multi-storied levels, high tree density) <br /> (NatureServe 2024). This type of habitat is lacking within the vicinity of all of the project features; <br /> therefore, the proposed reclamation activities will have no effect on the Mexican spotted owl. <br /> • <br /> 5.1.5 Endangered Fish Species <br /> Concerns with the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and razorback sucker are due <br /> primarily to water depletions or decreased water quality in the upper Colorado River basin. If no <br /> depletions occur with the proposed action and best management practices are taken to minimize <br /> increased sedimentation in waterways,no adverse aquatic effects would be expected and there will <br /> be no effect to these species. <br /> 5.1.6 Monarch Butterfly <br /> The monarch butterfly is a candidate species and is not yet listed or proposed for listing. While federal <br /> protections are not in place, the goal in highlighting it as a candidate species is to encourage <br /> conservation of the species when opportunities arise. Monarch caterpillars utilize milkweed <br /> (Asclepias spp.) as the host plant (NatureServe 2024). Milkweed is common in Colorado in a wide <br /> range of habitats (McKnight et. al 2019). While the surveys conducted by Real West were too early <br /> • in the season to identify new growth, no old-growth milkweed with its distinct seed-pod was <br /> observed; however, it is possible on the lease areas. If milkweed is found on the sites of proposed <br /> March 2024 Real West Natural Resource Consulting <br />