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pairs opposite each other on the stem and usually three to twenty inflorescene cluster of flowers, <br />although occasionally just one or two flowers may be present. This species grows on semi- <br />barren knolls, ridges, and steep slopes in a mix of fragmented white shale and silty clay soils of <br />the Green River Formation at elevations ranging from 4,700 to 6,750 feet above sea level. <br />Suitable soils that would support the Graham beadtounge do not exist on or adjacent to the <br />Colowyo permit azea. Due to a lack of suitable habitat, OSM has determined that PR-02 will <br />"not affect" the continued existence of the Graham beardtounge. <br />White River beardtounge <br />The White River beardtounge (Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis) is a perennial herb, 6 to 19 <br />inches tall, with lavender to pale blue flowers that bloom from late May to June. This species is <br />found on semi-barren areas on white and infrequently red soils xeric shallow, fine textured soils <br />with fragmented shale in pinyon-juniper /desert shrub and mixed desert shrub communities, at <br />elevations ranging from 5,000 to 6,680 feet above sea level. <br />Suitable soils that would support the White River beadtounge do not exist on or adjacent to the <br />Colowyo permit area. Due to a lack of suitable habitat, OSM has determined that PR-02 will <br />"not affect" the continued existence of the White River beardtounge. <br />Previous Consultations <br />In a letter dated April 18, 1988, (6-CO-88-F-02) USF&WS concurred with OSM's July 11, 1985 <br />"not likely to jeopazdize" determination for the Colorado pikeminnow, (Ptvchocheilus lucius , <br />boneytail Gila ele ans ,and humpback chub Gila cv ha due to a 127.43 ac/ft water depletion. <br />In a memorandum dated May 22, 1992, (FWS/GJ-6-CO-92-F-003) USF&WS concurred with <br />OSM's March 14, 1994 "may effect" determination for the Colorado pikeminnow, <br />(Ptvchocheilus lucius ,razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus , boneytail Gila ele ans ,and <br />humpback chub Gila cv ha due to an additional 2.6 ac/ft water depletion. <br />OSM required Colowyo Coal Company, L.P. to revise their water depletion estimate for the mine <br />to address depletions associated with the four additional sediment ponds proposed in PR-02. In <br />addition, OSM directed Colowyo Coal Company, L.P. at the same time to verify its water <br />depletion estimate for the entire Colowyo mine. <br />In response to OSM's request, the Colowyo Coal Company, L.P. estimated that its current water <br />depletion estimate for the mine is 527.48 ac/ft per yeaz. Colowyo Coal Company, L.P. also <br />estimated that the four sediment ponds proposed in PR-02 will result in an additional 27.0 ac/ft <br />per year water depletion for a new net annual water depletion of 554.48 ac/ft per year. <br />The USF&WS has previously determined that water depletions in the Upper Colorado River <br />System are a major source of impact to the endangered fish species, Continued water <br />withdrawals have restricted the ability of the Colorado River system to produce the flow <br />conditions required by the various life stages of these fish. <br />