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z (Fal ~Q OP,~pgrinvs) , bald eagle (Haliaeetus i Pi~~on~F,phal_iys) , Piceance twinpod (P~lysaria obcordara), Dudley Bluffs bladderpod (T~vnprplla conSesta), and Uinta Basin hookless cactus (scipro.acr:yq.glaucus). BIOLOGICAL OPINION Based upon the best scientific and commercial infonnat:ion that is currently available, it is the Service's biological op:Lnion that water depletion impacts from the proposed project, as described below, are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Co:Lorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail, and razorback sucker and result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. The Service has developed reasonable and prudent alten~atives to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the endangered fishes and to avoid destruction or adverse modification of their critical inabitat. The Service has also developed reasonable and prudent measures with terms and conditions to minimize incidental take of the Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker. PROJECT DESCRIPTION American Soda proposes to build a commercial solution mining and processing operation producing 1.4 million tons of sodium minerals annually for at least 30 years. There are three major components of the project including: a solution mining well field and initial processing facility; a final processing facility; and .a pair of buried sodium solution and water transport pipelines between 'the facilities. The mine and initial processing facility are located 22 miles west- southwest of Meeker, in the central Piceance Basin, Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The final processing facility is located at the inactive Unocal Shale Oil Upgrade Facility 2.5 miles northwest of Parachute, Garfield County, Colorado with the solution and water transport pipelines running between the two facilities. The solution mining involves dissolving and recovering bedded and disseminated sodium minerals 1,550 to 2,200 feet below the surface. Pressurized hot water (300-400° F)'will be injected into the ground to dissolve the sodium ash into solution. A 450 foot diameter x 600 foot des? cavity is expected to result. The proposed Piceance mine site would occur on Bureau of Land Management land comprising of two federal sodium lease's. The lease areas encompass 4,084 acres but only about 774 acres would be disturbed or occupied in the 30-year life of the mine considered in this biological opinion. The well field is proposed to contain 543 wells arranged in six, 5-year, panels which would be developed sequentially through the 30-year mine period. After a:n initial startup period where about 26 wells would be drilled and mined at once, it is anticipated that about 15 wells will be drilled and put into production annually through the mine's life. Disturbance from mine panels would vary from 125 to 209 acres. The well pads are