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Rationale for Approval Recommendation Page 9 Application for Stone Gravel Pit Permit No. M-97-089 . f. Bald Eag/es, Golden Eagles, Great Horned Owls and Ferruginous hawks utilized area as winter hunting grounds /Bel% Emerson, Stillsl g. Birds protected by Migratory Bird Protection Act utilize area on a regular and seasonal basis. Effect on birds protected by Migratory Bird Protection Act not addressed /Srillsl h. Wildlife information lacking /MPCi i. Birds of prey control rodent populations, area is plagued by threat of Haniivirus leelll j. Western Colorado Collared Lizard (Crofaphytus c. auricepsJ or "Green Mountain Boomer", reptile on Colorado Threatened Species list, is reported fo have been sighted on the land in question Ieell) k. Destruction of wildlife habitat /Emerson, Morris, Trosrl Response - 7.a, b, d, a and h -DMG review of the application identified no adequacy issues for Exhibit H, Wildlife Information. Exhibit H contained the wildlife information, required by Rule 6.4.8(11, as originally submitted. DMG provided notice of the application to the Colorado Division of Wildlife on 10/2/97, 10/3/97 and 1/14/98. DMG has not received response from Colorado Division of Wildlife. Response - 7.c, e., f., g., i„ j., k -BLM is the surface management agency, has reviewed the application, and has completed an Environmental Analysis for the proposed operation. BLM Environmental Analysis states: Threatened and Endangered Species: A records review and field survey of the project area did not locate any federally listed threatened, endangered, or BLM sensitive species, or potential habitat for such species. There could be some occasional hunting by bald and golden eagles or possibly peregrine falcons over a large area which could included this parcel. Peregrine falcon's eyrie sites are located far from the project site and the presence of this gravel pit would certainly not affect a significant portion of its hunting ground. The BLM Environmental Analysis indicates that although the site is located within areas considered to be critical winter range for deer, the proposed operation is expected to have an inconsequential impact to deer populations because of the vast deer habitat areas adjacent to and surrounding the proposed site: BLM also indicated that mountain lion habitat occurs north and west of the proposed location, Therefore, the proposed operation is not expected to have significant impact to the mountain lion's hunting range. BLM also anticipates minimal impacts to Neotropical migratory birds and Gambel's quail, from the proposed operation, due to vast habitat areas available. BLM stated, "Other factors such as climate, predators and domestic cats would likely impact Neotropical migratory birds nesting success far more than the proposed operation." Regarding impacts to reptiles and amphibians from the proposed operation, BLM stated, "These species may also be temporarily displaced, but might find the rehabilitation that will occur as the project progresses to be more suitable than their present surroundings."