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• Grand Mesa Penstemon <br />In previous vegetation swveys conducted for permitting at the Sanbom Creek Mine for <br />CDMG, the Grand Mesa penstemon was not found at the mine site. "It occws among <br />oaks and aspens; in meadows, and colonizes road cuts (Harrington 1954; pers. wmm <br />Coles ]994)). and in deep clayey loam soils (unknown sowce in EMF)[sic]. Two records <br />have elevations listed at 7200 feet, however these may be inaccwate" (CNHP, 2001). <br />The primary descriptor of penstemon habitat according to the previous comments <br />indicates that it is found in open azeas such as meadows and road cuts. <br />Of the six exploration drill hole sites surveyed for this report, three (OM-01-O1, OM-Ol- <br />04, and OM-Ol-11) contain areas of open meadow adjacent to oakbrush/mountain shrub <br />or aspens. These sites cannot be disqualified from containing individuals or populations <br />of Grand Mesa penstemon, though none were identified at the time of the on-site <br />investigation. <br />Grand Mesa penstemon does not appeaz to be uncommon in the area. Another population <br />of Grand Mesa penstemon, not recorded by the Colorado Natwal Heritage Program, was <br />located within atwenty-mile radius of Somerset, Colorado by Robert D. Dorn on July 2, <br />1994 (Dorn, 1994). He estimates there aze approximately 3,256,000 plants within the <br />Somerset area. According to Mr. Dom the plants regulazly occw on roadside or trail <br />• distwbances (but also in natwal openings in the brush). A copy of Mr. Dom's letter <br />report is attached. <br />With the above observation of the lazge population of Grand Mesa penstemon, it is <br />unlikely that any significant impacts will occw from the exploration program <br />Adobe Beardtongue <br />As with the Colorado desert pazsley, this plant is known from north-facing slopes on <br />adobe hills derived from Mancos shale in Montrose and Delta counties (GNPs, 1989). . <br />None of the exploration drill hole sites is located on decomposed Mancos shale or on <br />north-facing slopes, therefore the potential for impacting or encountering this species is <br />minimal. <br />DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS <br />Ten species of special concern and fow natwal plant communities were identified <br />through literature and database searches as being potentially present within the area slated <br />for exploration drilling in 2001 at the Oxbow Mining Company Sanborn Creek Mine. Of <br />these species and natwal communities, three have been afforded threatened, endangered, <br />or candidate status under the federal Endangered Species Act; the bald eagle, southwest <br />willow flycatcher, and boreal toad. During an on-site investigation of the proposed <br />exploration drill hole sites, buffer zones, and access road segment, none of the species <br />were encountered. Further, no critical habitat for any ofthese species was encountered in <br />-6- <br />