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County wide traffic aeeociated with expected to significantly overload • traffic accidents would be expected accident rate (accident per vehicle increase. Air Ouslity coal related growth would not be any county or State road system. while to increase an unspecified amount, the mile) itself would not be expected to Several atmospheric pollutants in Delta County ere approaching air quality standards. Any new emission source in the region would compound the situation. The moat probable pollutants that would increase are total suspended particulates (TSP), nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. While the area is predicted to remain below the annual Nation Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), under the worst case situation, some areas may exceed the 24-hour NAAQS standards. No significant impacts to air quality will result from this alternative. Wildlife and Endancered Soeciee If a ventilation site and access road were constructed on public lands, a lose of approximately three scree of mountain shrub and/or pinion-juniper habitat would occur. There would be an increased level of human activity aeeociated with construction and maintenance of the facility. The lose of wildlife habitat due to vegetation lose and human activity would be insignificant. In order to protect and minimize impacts to the Grand Meea Penetemon that may occur, a Threatened and Endangered plant survey will be required prior to any surface disturbance. In addition, in order to protect and preserve breeding and nesting habitat for the Loggerhead shrike, disturbances in sagebrush and oak stands should be avoided to the extent possible. If bald or golden eagles establish neat sites within a distance of 1/4 mile radius of any mine facility during the 15 year project life, seasonal • restrictions on human activity and additional surface disturbance would become necessary. Nest sites of these species and a buffer zone of 1/4 mile radius around the neat ie determined to be unsuitable for coal mining under 43 cFR 3461, Unsuitability Criteria Numbers 11 and 15, except ae permitted by special stipulation through consultation with Fieh and Wildlife Service. See Appendix i and the Mitigating Measures section for stipulations. No impacts to the riparian zones along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and Hawkeneet canyon are expected. These riparian areas were determined to be suitable for coal mining following the application of Coal Unsuitability Criterion Number 14. See Appendix I and the Mitigating Measures section for stipulations. The retention of surface runoff waters on the above ground facilities proposed for the lease tract would result in a generous eatLaate of one acre foot of water lost to the North Fork of the Gunnison and hence to the upper Colorado River. Water depletions in the Upper Colorado River Basin has been recognized ae a major source of impact to endangered fish species. Therefore, the USFWS has determined that project depletion impacts, can be offset by the water project proponent's one-time contribution to the Recovery Program in the amount of $11.50 per acre-foot of the project's average annual depletion and by appropriate legal protection of in stream flows pursuant to State law. Because it is estimated that water depletion resulting from the proposed action will be one acre-foot or lees annually and "may negatively affect" endangered fish species in the upper Colorado River, BLM has initiated formal consultation with the U.S. Fieh and Wildlife Service to receive a biological opinion on the "may affect" determination. Water quality standards for discharge of mine produced water will be regulated by NPDES permit No. CO-0000132. 15