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Exhibit Page 26 EXHIBIT H -WILDLIFE INFORMATION 1. Wildlife species common in area: HAY CAMP MESA, NE MONTEZUMA COUNTY Elk, deer, coyote, fox, cottontail and jack rabbits, raptors(falcon, eagle), magpie and songbirds (numerous types) on seasonal basis, skunk, bobcat, and numerous species of rodents. No identified prairie dog colonies are located in the area. However, mining operations would not preclude passage of ferrets between any colonies which do exist. Beaver are not identified as common species in the vicinity of the proposed project, according to information from NRCS, USFWS and CDOW. Elk are very commonly seen on the site, and do not appear to be disturbed by mining operations. ^ 2. Threatened and endangered species impacted: NONE ENDANGERED, T HREATENED, PROPOSED, AND CANDIDATE SPECIES IN ' MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO Common Name Scientific Name Status Plants ' Mancos milk-vetch Astragalus humillimus FE Mesa Verde cactus Sclerocactus mesae-verdae FT Sleeping Ute milk-vetch Astragalas toptipes FC ' Amphibians Boreal toad Bufo boreal boreal TC, SE Fish ' Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius FE, ST Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus FE, SE Birds ' Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus FT, ST Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus FC Mexican spotted owl Strix occidentalis lucida FT, ST ' Southwestern willow-flycatcher Empidonax traillii extimus FE, SE Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus occidentalis FC Mammals ' Black-footed ferret Mustela nigripes FE, SE Canada lynx Lynx Canadensis FT, SE FE =federally endangered; FT =federally threatened; FP =proposed for federal listing; FC =ca ndidate for federal ~ listing; SE =state endangered, ST =state threatened. The location of the Hay Camp Pit, as proposed, does not have any existing suitable habitat for any of the above plants, amphibians, or fish. The site is sufficiently set back from the Dolores River (by horizontal and vertical distance) to have no significant impact on favored habitat for any of the birds which use riparian habitat, and the site does not have the vegetation needed for spotted owl habitat. The bald eagle does inhabit the region, but as the site is several hundred feet back from the river and several hundred feet above the river, impact is unlikely. While recently delisted, habitat for the peregrine falcon also is found in the river valley, but is also unlikely to be impacted by these activities. While a potential for ferrets exists in the area, there are no known or likely prairie dog populations in the area that are capable of supporting ferret populations. The proposed activities would not be a significant impact on potential lynx range.