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ExecuWe Summary displacement would be increased to 1,328 to 1,870 acres, and the surface aze;i of saline evaporation ponds would be increased, which could make them more attractive to waterfowl. Impacts would be reduced under the Agency Preferred Altemative, based on the activities and procedures described in the Wildlife Mitigation Plan. Displacement would )•~e reduced through the retention ofhigher-density stands of pinyonyuniper. Habitat losses would be reduced through off-site habitat enhancement. Above-ground pipe racks and other facilities that could impede deer migration and movements would have overpasses or underpasses to allow for easier movement within mine panels. Raptor nests would be identified prior to the initiation of any mine panel development activities. Active nests would be protected using standard BLM timing restrictions and surface occupancy restrictions. Waterfowl would be protected from contact with hypersaline waters by netting of process ponds. Wetlands. Pipeline construction would cause short-term modifications of soils and vegetation at three wetlands, under all three action alternatives. The affected area would be less than one-third acre. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have issued a Nationwide Permit for construction of the pipeline. No wetlands would be affected at the Piceance or Parachute Sires. Threatened and Endangered Species. Several species may be affected by the Proposed Action. Populations of two federally listed threatened plant species occur within and near proposed mine panels at the Piceance Site. Adverse impacts would be avoided by restricting ground-disturbing activities within 200 feet of the population and by restoration of disturbed unoccupied habitat. Several bird species may be attracted to and injured or I:illed at saline evaporation ponds at the Piceance and Pazachute Sites. Water quality and bird use and mortality would be monitored, and methods to exclude birds (such as netting) would be developed if needed. The pipeline corridor would be located neaz three sage grouse leks. Construction timing limitations and other mitigation would be used to min;m;~e impacts. The project would deplete flows in the Colorado River, but impacts to endangered fish species would be min;m;~ed by payment of standard compensation amounts under the Colorado River Enda~rgered Fish Recovery Program. Impacts of the Accelerated Development Alternative would be the same, except (1) the surface azea of saline evaporation ponds would be increased, and (2) the amount of depletion of Colorado River water would be increased and would be sufficiently lazge to require case-by-case evaluation and approval/denial. Impacts to threatened and endangered species would be reduced under the Agency Preferred Alternative. A Biological Assessment was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and formal consultation was conducted on potential effects to Colorado River fish. The USFWS' Biological Opinion is included in this Final EIS (Appendix L). All active process ponds would be netted to prevent potential bird contact with hypersaline waters. Several mitigation measures would be implemented to prevent drrect impacts to listed plant species and to restore unoccupied suitable habitat. Raptor nests would be protected through the implementation of No Surface Occupancy stipulations and timing restrictions. Sage grouse leks would be protected from surface disturbing activities during breeding activities, and disturbed areas in the vicinity of lek sites would be revegetated with plant species that provide cover and forage. ES-6