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flights through the area searching for carrion. Winter roost site habitat for bald eagle is not present within the project azea. Long-term and cumulative effects on bald eagles are not expected based on the knowledge that: • The occurrence of bald eagle within the project azea is unknown, since off cial surveys for this species were not conducted within the project area. However, none have been observed anywhere neaz the project azeas since wildlife studies were initiated for Mountain Coal Company in 2002. • Suitable reproductive habitat for bald eagle does not exist within or near the project area. • The proposed project will not affect any known eagle nest/reproductive sites. • Proposed project activities do not include vegetation alteration (logging} strategies that would impact eagles. • Proposed project activities do not include increases in road density or amounts, since no new permanent roads will be constructed as part of project activities. Any temporary roads that aze constructed will be obliterated after use. • The proposed project will not affect individual eagles in the short-term during project implementation, by making individual birds temporarily avoid the project area. • The limited scope and scale of the proposed action and its location means that bald eagle reproductive, foraging and winter habitat is not at risk. Bald eagle population viability is not at risk. Based on current information, the project will have No Effect on the bald eagle. Endangered Fish: Four federally listed endangered species (Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sucker) occur in offsite azeas including the Gunnison and Colorado river (USFWS) 1994). Offsite areas inhabited by Colorado pikeminnow include the lower 30 to 40 miles of the Gunnison River and the Colorado River neaz Palisade, Colorado downstream to Lake Powell. The closest offsite areas inhabited by razorback sucker include the Gunnison River (below Hartland Dam to the Colorado River confluence) and the Colorado River between Palisade, Colorado and Westwater Canyon. The occurrence of humpback chub is limited to one recent record in the lower Gunnison River and the Black Rocks and Westwater Canyon reaches of the Colorado River. The humpback chub has been collected in the Colorado River in the Black Rocks area, Catazact Canyon and Lake Powell. On Apri128, 2005 the GMUG NF requested a formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The request was for small water depletions associated with numerous mineral development projects located in the GMUG NF. The Gunnison River basin is included in the list of river basins that aze covered. The GMUG NF indicated that the combined projects would cause water depletions of up to 25 acre-feet from the upper Colorado River basin. In their biological opinion the FWS determined that removal of the 25 acre feet may affect, but is not Likely to adversely affect the four listed endangered fish species.