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DPCer~~Y~ef 1. 20G3 Appendix .4 <br />Anaiysis <br /> <br />• <br />No lands within the review area are designated as critical habitat, proposed to be designated as <br />critical habitat, or determined to be essential habitat for any Federally listed threatened or <br />endangered plant or animal species, or species proposed for listing (Federal Register, various <br />dates). However, critical habitat for the Colorado-pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback <br />chub, and bonytail chub does exist off-site in the lower Gunnison River, and in the Colorado <br />River. This critical habitat could be affected by water depletion from this action (Federal <br />Register/Vol. 59, No. 54). On May 24, 2002, the Paonia Ranger District of the US Forest Service <br />received a letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Pfister 2002), concurring that the water <br />being used for the Mountain Coal Company operations was non-tributary water and there would <br />be no depletion of surface waters or effect on Colorado River endangered fishes. At the post- <br />leasing stage, prior to the approval of the mine plan, if it is determined that development of the <br />lease would result in a change in water use, such that the mine would be using tributary waters, <br />resulting in a surface water depletion in the upper Colorado River Basin, the permitting agency <br />must enter into consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine the appropriate <br />conservation measures to offset the effect to these listed fishes. <br />Bald eagles winter in the area, and the northern edge of the lease tract on BLM (approximately 10 <br />acres) and private land (approximately 52 acres) is classified as a winter concentration area by <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). The remainder of the tract may be used for incidental <br />foraging, but there are no other essential habitats, such as nests or communal roosts located on <br />or near the proposed lease tract (BLM 1980, CDOW 2001). <br />Proposed West Flatiron-Coal Lease ;Bald, Eagle Concenfration Area: <br />18 ' <br />14 18 __ - - <br />'.Bald Eagle Concentration Ar <br />O Private SUrFace/FederaLCoaf•'- <br />p BLM Lease Parcel <br />D Forest Service Lease Parcel <br />BLM'Lands <br /> <br />Forest Service-Lands <br />~ ~ 24 Private Lands. " <br />N. <br />A <br />nvirnrmenfal Asaessme~~t <br />G~; f.'st ~!i311; 01; if;f~, ~ rciiJt <br />~.3l1i1i115@Il i:oun{y, Gc~lcra'e <br />P~qe A-5 <br />