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Gr4rradn Nawnl Ilarna gc Pmy~am, :5d Ci.zt ral S.xvicc; Hudeing - C$I.. Fern Gelhnx. CO SOS_} ~'' The (~Ca~ IVahlre, 1~~nnm~m Coruervnrlry °aa.,~ June 2, 1999 Bvron Walker Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Dear bir. Walker, ~?ECEIVED JUN 0.41999 Civisiat of Minerals d GeckgY The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is in receipt of your request for information regarding the coal mine project. In response, CNHP has searched its Biological and Conservation Datasystem (BCD) for natural heritage resources (occurrences of significam natural communities and rare, threatened or endangered plants and animals) documented from the immediate area of the Axial and Ninemile Gap Quadrangles. We have enclosed two reports from BCD. One describes natural heritage resources known from the area and gives location (by Township, Range, and Section), precision of the locational information, and the date of last observation atthat location. Please note that "precision" reflects the resolution of original data. For example, an herbarium record from "4 miles east of Colorado Springs" provides much less spatial information than a topographic map showing the exact location of the occurrence. "Precision" codes of Seconds, Minutes, and General are defined in the report footer. You may notice that some occurrences do not have sections listed. Those species have been designated as "sensitive" due to their rarity and threats by humans. Peregrine falcons, for example, are susceptible to human breeders removing falcon eggs from their nests. For these species, CNHP does not provide locatiooal information beyond township and range. Please contact us should you require more detailed information for sensitive occuttences. A second report outlines the status of the known elements. We have included status according to Natural Heritage Program methodology and legal status under state and federal statutes. Natural Heritage ranks are standardized across the Heritage Program network, and are assigned for global and state levels of rarity. They range from "1"for critically imperiled or extremely rare elements, to "5" for those that are demonstrably secure. For your convenience we have also included habitat descriptions. However, please be aware that these descriptions are in draft form and have not been edited for content. Please do not cite CNHP habitat information; instead, cite the original source of the habitat information as indicated. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has legal authority over wildlife in the state. CDOW would therefore be responsible for the evaluation of and fmal decisions regarding any potential effects a proposed project may have on wildlife. If you would like more specific information regarding these or other vertebrate species in the vicinity of the area of interest, please contact the Colorado Division of Wildlife.