Laserfiche WebLink
1 <br /> �E,IT OF lti <br /> • a�� �,m United States Department of the Interior <br /> � 9 <br /> a FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE <br /> Fkolopol Scr ika <br /> M�RC Western Colorado Office <br /> N 764 Horinon Dme,South Ann=A <br /> Grand Junction,Colorado 91506-3946 R `J�__I V <br /> IN UPLY REFER TO <br /> ES/CO:CDMG <br /> MS 65412 GJ APR 1 51994 <br /> April 12, 1994 <br /> Christine E. Johnston <br /> Environmental Protection Specialist Colorado Department of Minerals and Geology �4 0 3 l <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 ^ J <br /> Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> Dear Ms. Johnston: <br /> This responds to your letter of February 14, 1994, requesting Fish and <br /> Wildlife Service (Service) evaluation of the potential for impacts to <br /> threatened and endangered species from the permit revision (No. 05) for the <br /> West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-80-007) . <br /> The Service has determined that the increased water usage allowed by the <br /> • permit revision should prompt a "may affect" determination by the lead federal <br /> agency. The proposed action is likely to adversely impact endangered fishes <br /> and their critical habitats within the Upper Colorado River Basin. Those <br /> species include; <br /> Colorado squawfish Ptvchocheilus lucius <br /> Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus <br /> Bonytail chub Gila ele ans <br /> Humpback chub Gila cvpha <br /> The Service is currently undergoing formal consultation with the Federal <br /> Office of Surface Mining (OSM) on this issue. When the consultation is <br /> complete this office will issue a biological opinion discussing reasonable and <br /> prudent alternatives for these impacts. Your attention is directed to Section <br /> 7(d) of the Endangered Species Act, as amended, which underscores the <br /> requirement that the applicant shall not make any irreversible or <br /> irretrievable commitment of resources during the consultation period which, in <br /> effect, would deny the formulation or implementation of reasonable and prudent <br /> alternatives regarding their actions on any endangered or threatened species. <br /> • <br />