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• Two wildlife agencies were contacted by Jack Clark, Ph.D.: Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) <br />and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). These agencies were contacted during October <br />1995 to determine their concerns, if any, with the proposed project. <br />WESTEC and Dr. Dorn have been evaluating habitats in the immediate area of the West Mine for <br />about four years. During that time, Dr. Dorn conducted several surveys for the potential of <br />threatened, endangered, or candidate species. Also during that time, the list of these species <br />which have the potential to occur in the area was modified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />IUSFWS), and WESTEC was aware of those modifications. Dr. Dorn is thoroughly familiar with <br />all of the habitats that occur in the area and the potential for those habitats to support threatened, <br />endangered, or candidate species. <br />WESTEC requested an updated list of threatened, endangered, or candidate species which might <br />occur in the area of the operation from the USFWS. This species list is included as Appendix A <br />of this report. <br />Seven federally listed species could occur near the West Elk Mine according to the USFWS. Of <br />• these species, four are fishes restricted to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. These fishes are <br />not anticipated to be impacted due to any activities of the proposed expansion. <br />The potential for the other three species to occur in the area was evaluated during the above <br />described field investigation by Dr. Dorn. Specifically, the threatened bald eagle (Ha/iaeetus <br />leucocepha/us) may inhabit areas along the North Fork of the Gunnison River especially during the <br />winter, and they may be expected to occur in the area. Bald eagles are known to use active coal <br />mining areas in the region. The endangered southwestern willow flycather (Empidonax trail/ii <br />extimus) inhabits rather open riparian skes unlike the narrow riparian area of Sylvester Gulch which <br />was nevertheless surveyed. The boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreasl, a candidate species, normally <br />occurs above 8,000 feet elevation. The site is all below 7,500 feet. <br />• <br />WESTEC Projeet No. 95258 Threatened & Endenpered Species Survey Report No. 1370A <br />April 1997 WESTEC, Inc. 2 <br />