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<br />Impacts of this nature would be expected to occur as a single event, <br />confined to habitat directly overlying active mine panels or rooms. Based <br />on the current mine plan, surface subsidence would affect an average of 25 <br />acres annually, with no more than 15 percent of the lease (about 52 acres) <br />being affected in any one year. Most species associated with this group <br />are common and widely distributed in habitats represented throughout the <br />region. These animals typically posses high reproduct:ive and <br />recolonization abilities and individual losses over a Limited area would <br />be rapidly compensated by adjoining populations. <br />In the event subsidence proves detrimental to burrowing animals, impacts <br />would be considered significant only in the case of sensitive ~:pecies or <br />those associated with endangered species (i.e., burrowing owl, prairie <br />dogs). At this time, prairie dogs and burrowing owls are not known to <br />inhabit the lease area. If populations are found or become established in <br />areas influenced by lease development, measures would be incorporated <br />through the Section 7 process or revised mine plan to ensure appropriate <br />protection of these species and their habitats. <br />Threatened and Endangered Species <br />Bald eagle, whooping crane, or peregrine falcon populations or <br />associated habitats would be subject to no conceivable impact. <br />~ Since potential ferret habitat, in the form of white-tailed prairie <br />C dog towns, does not appear to exist on the application area, surface <br />disturbances which could otherwise damage or destroy burrow systems <br />(i.e., blading) would be inconsequential. In the event prairie dogs <br />l are found or become established in areas potentially influenced by <br />J surface activities, measures to avoid disturbance of burrow systems <br />/ could be employed. If potentially deleterious surface disturbing <br />I activities or subsidence-related impacts prove to be unavoidable, <br />I formal surveys following current USFWS guidelines would be required <br />in advance of disturbance to determine the presence or absence of <br />black-footed ferrets. <br />Hine-related water consumption, representing depletion of flow from <br />the Upper Colorado River Basin and associated endangered fish <br />habitat, was addressed in the final Biological Opinion for the Hoon <br />Lake Project (Hay 1981) which includes the subject mine. Since <br />incorporation of this emergency lease into the framework of Western <br />Fuels' existing mine would presumably involve no further depletions <br />to the Upper Colorado River Basin, no additional impacts to <br />downstream fisheries would occur. <br />Section 7 Consultation with the USFWS, as required by the Endangered - . <br />Species Act, has been initiated by BLM on this leasing action. <br />Thorough evaluation of impacts and measures necessary to protect <br />listed and proposed threatened and endangered species will be <br />developed through this interagency effort. <br /> <br />16 <br />