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Ferruginous hawk Ferruginous hawks are not mentioned in HGTI's application. Ferruginous hawks are quite common in the open shrublands of Northwestern Colorado and especially closer to Rangely, Colorado (personal observations in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife). These birds are often observed on the tope of telephone poles and associated with low, isolated rock outcrops. Jerry Craig reports that is possible that ferruginous hawks might be present at or near the loadout, however, they would need low cliff faces for breeding which are not present near the lookout. FISH Colorado sguawfish Humpback chub Honvtail chub Roundtail chub Razorback sucker Flannelmouth sucker The HG Mine application (by 3R Corporation) is referenced in HGTI's application ae adequately describing fisheries potential for streams in and adjacent to the proposed permit area: (p. 39) "Major nearby streams which provide habitat for running water fishes include the East Fork of the Williams Fork River and the Yampa River, approximately four and ten miles from the site, respectively. The East Fork is rated as excellent for stream fisheries and is dominated by rainbow trout. The Yampa River near its confluence with Dry Creek is dominated by rough fish and is rated fair for stream fisheries." (p. 39) "The habitats in Dry Creek change radically as the creek flows across farmland near the Yampa River. Is probably subject to temperature increases, nutrient loading, and siltation from the surrounding farms and ranches. No fish inventories for Dry Creek have been undertaken. However, the aquatic habitat may be suitable for chubs, Gila app.; shiners, Notroois epp.; and suckers, Catoatomua epp.; and other rough fish." The later sentence would appear to support the possible presence of the three chubs listed above, ae well ae the flannelmouth sucker. However, Dry Creek in the vicinity of the loadout is intermittent most years, depending upon withdraws for irrigation, and probably does not reflect the conditions described above. The railroad spur parallels Dry Creek for over one mile but then moves away from Dry Creek two miles upstream from Dry Creek's confluence with the Yampa River. There is nothing in the permit that describes the condition of Dry Creek where it moves away from the railroad spur but conditions there may not reflect the condition of the creek closer to the Yampa River. The Colorado aquawfiah would not be present in Dry Creek and may not be present in the Yampa River near Hayden, however, water depletions to the river would affect all the federally listed fish. Facilities at the HG Loadout will be taking nonpotable water from a well two miles north of the loadout located in the Yampa River alluvium. According to HGTI's permit application (Volume 2, Tab 15, Page 2), this well is righted for 70 acre-feet per year but they project water use at the loadout to be about 35-40 acre-feet per year. HGTI is proposing that the 90 acre-feet of water rights that the corporation owns in the Walker Ditch, which flows into the Yampa River, will more than offset any loses of water due to both the well draining the Yampa River alluvium and losses due to storage in the sediment ponds at the loadout.