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?.. biological opinion for review by the lead Federal Agency and the applicant; however, the Office of Surface Mining, acting through Minerals and Geology, already included a stipulation to require contribution to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the anticipated depletion impacts, thereby allowing completion of this final biological opinion. The Service concurs that the annual depletion of water from the Colorado River Basin "may affect" the endangered Colorado squawfish (Ptvchocheilus Lucius), humpback chub (Gila cvoha), bonytail chub (Gila eleaans), and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus). Further, the Service also concurs with the Minerals and Geology conclusion that the water depletion will result in the adverse modification of proposed critical habitat and has included a conference opinion to address this issue. The biological assessment by Minerals and Geology concludes no effect for the black-footed ferret, bald eagle, and whooping crane due to lack of suitable habitat. The Service concurs with this finding for these species. BIOLOGICAL OPINION Based upon the best scientific and commercial information that is currently available, it is the Service's biological opinion that the proposed project, as described below, is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sucker. The Service has developed reasonable and prudent alternatives to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the endangered fishes. These reasonable and prudent alternatives should be included as stipulations to any permits required of the applicant from the Office of Surface Mining or Minerals and Geology. CONFERENCE OPINION Critical habitat has been proposed for the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sucker within the 100-year floodplain in portions of their historic range (58 FR 6578). Destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat is defined in 50 CFR 402.02 as a direct or indirect alteration that appreciably diminishes the value of critical habitat for both the survival and recovery of a listed species. The Service has determined that the project is likely to cause destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat for the four listed endemic fishes. The Service has developed reasonable and prudent alternatives that would avoid destruction or adverse modification to proposed critical habitat. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Minerals and Geology proposes to issue a permit to Hayden Gulch Terminal, Inc., to reauthorize storage and shipping of coal from an existing facility near Hayden, Routt County, Colorado. The existing facility has been inactive since 1986, but new owners plan to begin operations in the near future. The permit area of approximately 176 acres is designed to store approximately 50,000 tons of coal. Approximately 106 acres of the permit area have been or will be disturbed by mining. Other site features include roads, rail spurs, and sediment ponds. Minerals and Geology has concluded that the operation of the facility will result in an annual depletion of up to 56.4 acre-feet from the Yampa River.