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In foilowiug the guidelines of±ne Endangered Species Act of 1973, r smended, a szazch was made .:~ for threatened, endangered, car `sensitive (TES) plant species in the ~~ oject azea. i%o federal TES species are known to exist ir.`t~:e project area. According to the U.S. Fish a nti Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ecological Services Office in Grand r: Junction, Colorado, 3 TES :~n~ 1 candidate plant species have the potential to occur in La Plata County. Knowlton's cactus {Pediocactus knowltonu) and M`a::,os milkvetch (Asiragalus humillinlus) aze listed endaviceied species. Mesa V"erde cactus (Scle: ccactus mesa-verde) is Iisted threatened, and Sleeping Ute r!ilkvetch (Astragalus tortipes} is a cn_:uidate species for listing. <„• ,.. No Knowlton's cactus, Mesa V ~rde cactus, Mancos nuIkvetch, Sieep`_ti~ Ute milkvetch, or any other sensitive flora'species are known to occur on the lands above`*1ie proposed project area. Additionally, based on p;evioas biological descriptions of the projer.< =_rea, no habitat exists for any of these TES, flora species iri t~:e project area. According to the USFWS, 7 ?; _?ed species have potential to occur ir_ `~ Plata County. These are the endangered Southwestern wiz;ow flycatcher (Empidonax irailli ertzr.•1us), the endangered Black- footed ferret (bfustela nigripe~ ), the endangered Colorado pikeminrcw (Ptychocheilus Lucius), the endangered Humpback chub (:~ ila cypha), the endangered Razorba~ :sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), the threatened Bald eagle (K_c[iaeetus leucicephalus), the threaten: Mexican spotted owt (Strir occidentalis lucida), and the candidate Western boreal toad (Bufd .~~reas boreas). The recently delisted Peregrine falcon (F~ico pereginus) is also known to occr:. iil La Plata County and may incidentally occur in or near :.'.:project area. • Of the federally listed fauna ; :.~cies with potential to occur in La Pl:: ' :.County, on+° the Bald eagle is known to occur in orneaz th ~ project area. No listed fish species e.... it in the pro; eet area as there are no perennial surface wat~ resources present. Surface water del:tions are not expected, and therefore there will not be any impact on listed fish species. Thy Western bor:zl toad is only known to occur above 8,000 eet in elevation; the project is at ]es': than 8,200 feet in elevation. There are no,records ofthe B ack-footed ferret from southwestern c. aorado. There is no suitable habitat {e.g., steep canyons, dense forested areas} for the Mexican :.: otted owl within or near the project azea There aze no riparian azeas in the project area prow--, ing potential habitat for the Southwestern willow flycatcher. Bald eagle may incidentally o-:.cur in the project azea at any time of :lie yeaz. The highest density of Bald eagles in the county occurs during the winter months (Nov-Mw ). Overwintering Bald eagles commonly utilize river corrid:,rs in the county. No winter most sites or nesting areas are latown in the vicinity of the project are::. LAND USE The coal estate is reserved to tte United States on all of the propose:, lease area. T'iie coal estate in Section 36 is reserved for the State of Colorado. • The proposed project azea is utilized for livestock grazing. 10