Laserfiche WebLink
Highbury Resources, Inc. DOE Uranium Leases 8 <br /> Environmental Review <br /> • disturbance activities,the extent of the plant's spread and density could be inspected to determine the <br /> potential of the site to provide habitat for the monarch butterfly. Another purpose of highlighting the <br /> monarch butterfly as a candidate species is to encourage enhancement of habitat for the species. If <br /> significant patches of milkweed are found in the project area, enhancement measures could be <br /> considered. <br /> 5.1.7 Silverspot Butterfly <br /> The silverspot butterfly occurs in permanent spring-fed meadows, seeps, marshes and streamside <br /> meadows (USFWS 2023b). The only known larval host plant is the bog violet (Viola <br /> nephrophylla/V. sororia var. affinis). This plant is found in soggy soil in open meadows or under <br /> willows or other shrubs typically at the margins of the habitat. Suitable habitat for this species is <br /> not present on or in the immediate vicinity of any of the lease features; therefore, the proposed <br /> reclamation will have no effect on this species. <br /> 5.2 Raptors <br /> • <br /> The CODEX database provides a listing of regulatory species documented within the project area <br /> or the 1-mile buffer. It also provides potential Species of Concern, which includes some raptor <br /> species within the project area. The listing is based on range maps and modeling, but the records <br /> have low precision. <br /> The only raptor reported on the database within the 1-mile buffer is for the SR-11 lease where a <br /> bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) winter concentration area is documented. Other raptor <br /> species listed as potentially in all three lease areas or 1-mile buffer are the golden eagle (Aquila <br /> chrysaetos), burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), northern harrier (Circus hudsonius), prairie <br /> falcon (Falco mexicanus), and for the SR-11 site only, the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). <br /> The pinyon juniper habitat provides nesting habitat only for smaller avian species. The trees <br /> generally lack the size to support large nests for raptors. Nesting habitat for raptors is primarily <br /> rock outcrop and cliff habitat. Such habitat is present near the JD-9 portal, JD-8 portal and waste <br /> pile, the highwall of the JD-7 pit, the SM-18 south portal and north site, and the SR-11 site. No <br /> • raptor nests or raptors were observed at any of these locations. <br /> March 2024 Real West Natural Resource Consulting <br />