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flights through the area searching for carrion. Winter roost site habitat for bald eagle is not present within the project area. bong-term and cumulative effects on bald eagles are not expected based on the Imowledge that • The oceurrence of bald eagle within the project azea is unlmown, since official surveys for this species were not conduc6ed within the project area. However, none have been observed anywhere near the project areas since wildlife studies were initiated for Mountain Coal Company in 2002. • Suitable reproductive habitat for bald eagle does not exist widrin or near the project area • The proposed project will not affect any known eagle nesdregroductive sites. • Proposed project activities do not include vegetation alteration (logging) strategies that urould impact eagles. e Proposed project activities do not include increases inroad density or amours, since no new permanent roads will be constructed as part of project activities. Any temporazy roads that are constructed will ?~ obliterated after use. o The proposed project will not affect individual eagles in the short-tens during project implementation, by maldng individual birds temporarily avoid the project area. • The limited scope and scale of the proposed action and its location means that bald eagle reproductive, foraging and winter habitat is not at risk. Bald eagle population viability is not at risk- Based on current information, the project will have No EffeM on the bald eagle- Endangered Fish: Four federally listed endangered species (Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sacker) occur in offsite areas including the Gunnison and Colorado river (LTSFQVS) 1994). lJffsite areas inhabited by Colorado pikeminnow include the lower 30 to 40 miles of the Gunnison River and the Colorado River near Palisade, Colorado downstream to Lake Powell. The closest offsite areas inhabited by razorback sucker include the Gunnison River (below llariland Dam to the Colorado River confluence) and the Colorado River between Palisade, Colorado and Westwater Canyon. The occurrence of humpback chub is limited to one recent nsord in the Lower Gunnison River and the Slack Rocks and Westwatet Canyon reaches of the Colorado River. The humpback chub has been collected in the Colorado River in the Black Rocks area, Cataract Canyon and lake Powell. On Apri128, 2005 the GMUG 1VF requested a formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The request was for small water depletions associated with numerous mineral development projects located in the GMUG IdF. The Grmnison River basin is included in the list of river basins that aze covered. The GMUG AIF indicated that the combined projects would cause water depletions of up to 25 acre-feet from the upper Colorado River basin. 1n their biological opinion the FWS determined that removal ofthe 25 acre feet may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the four listed endangered fish species. 6