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In following the guidelines of?ire Endangered Species Act of 1973, r amended, a szazch was made for threatened, endangered, or kensitive (TES) plant species in the oject azea. i`Io federal TES ,: species are known to exist ir.`ti?e project azea. According to the U.S. Fish aria Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ecological Services Office in Grand junction, Colorado, 3 TES anh 1 candidate plant species have the ~~tential to occur in La Plata County. Knowlton's cacts (Pediocactus knowltonii) and M`z::,os milkvetch (Astragalus humillinurs) aze listed endanger ed species. Mesa Gerde cactus (Sclerecactus mesa-verde) is listed threatened, and Sleeping Ute r;rilkvetch (Astragalus tortipes) is a ca::~idate species for listing. No Knowlton's cactus, Mesa `i ~rde cactus, Mancos milkvetch, Sleep`'•a~ Ute milkvetch, or any other sensitive flora' species are `iriown to occur on the lands abow~ ~ the proposed project area. Additionally, based onp;eviot, biological descriptions ofthe proje^' ~.rea, no habitat exists for any of these TES, flora species iri'?`e project area. ,; . According to the USFWS, 7 ; _~ ed species have potential to occur it `~ Plata Couriy. These aze the endangered Southwestern wllow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii ex2i;nus), the endangered Black- footed ferret (byustela nigrip~s), the endangered Colorado pikeminr.~;-.v (Ptychocheilus Lucius), the endangered Humpback chub ~ _~ ila cypha), the endangered Razorba~~ ;sucker (Xyrauchen teaanus), the threatened Bald eagle (F_cliaeetus leucicephalus), the threaten: ~ Mexican spotted owl (Strtx occidentalis lucida), and the candidate Western boreal toad (Bufc ::Dregs boreas). The recently delisted Peregrine falcon (Falco pereginus} is also known to occv:c ;ir La Plata County and may incidentally occur in or near ~.` :project azea. Of the federall• ~ listed fauna ~::roies with potential to occur in La Pl: ' :.County, on: the Bald eagle is known to occur in or near th ~ project area. No listed fish species c.. •_'rr in the pro; ect azea as there are no perennial surface wat~ resources present. Surface water de;:~l:tions are net expected, and therefore there w111 not be any impact on listed fish species. T1:. Western boreal toad is only known to occur above 8,000 3eet in elevation; the project is at Les : than 8,200 feet in elevation. There are no,records of the Bck-footed ferret from southwestern ~. aorado, There is no suitable habitat {e.g., steep canyons, dense forested areas) for the Mexican s. otted owl within or near the project azea. There aze no riparian azeas in the project area prow;..ing potential habitat for the Southwestern willow flycatcher. Bald eagle may incidentally xcur in the project azea at any time of :lie year. The highest density ofBald eagles in the county occurs during the winter months(Nov-Ma:-). Overwintering Bald eagles commonly utilize river corrid:.rs in the county. No winter roost sites Or nesting areas aze known in the vicinity of the project area. LAND USE The coal estate is reserved to the United States on all ofthe propose, ;ease area. The coal estate in Section 36 is reserved for the State of Colorado. • The proposed project area is rtilized for livestock grazing. to