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-, .~ g. The rare Longnose leopard lizard may occur in the project area Within the state, the Longnose leopazd lizazd is known to exist only in the desert areas of western Colorado. While the lizard is relatively secure across its total range, it is considered critically imperiled in Colorado. The lizard is especially susceptible to insults resulting from habitat , alteration, degradation, and destruction caused by commerical uses and invasion of exotic herbaceous plants, introduction of predators, the influx of environmental pollutants, flash floods, and drought (NatureServe 2006). Being a ground dwelling species, the Longnose leopazd lizazd ' will likely be very sensitive to a large scale surface disturbing activity, such as a coal mine operation, within its habitat. , h. The extremely rare and endangered Razorback sucker may occur in the project area The razorback sucker was originally widespread in the Colorado River system. However, wild ^ populations of the fish were reduced to a small number of individuals in the Yampa, Colorado and Gunnison rivers in Colorado, and now, reproducing populations remain only in the middle ' Green River in Utah and in an off-channel pond in the Colorado River near Grand Junction. (CDOW). Colorado BLM has monitored and developed many conservation efforts to ensure the conservation of the razorback sucker. It is critically important that these conservation strategies , and plans are strictly adhered to because this species is critically imperiled through the entirety of its range (NatureServe 2006). 2. BLM Must Consider Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species i l d ffi i ll nc u e; 1) species o c a y proposed Special Status Species, as defined in BLM Manual §6840, for listing as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"); 2) species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA; 3) species designated as "candidates" for , listing under the ESA by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service; 4) species listed by a State via either legislation or regulation "in a category implying but not limited to potential endangerment or extinction;" and 5) species designated as "Sensitive" by the BLM. BLM Manual § 6840, Glossary at 8. In terms of Special Status Species, the BLM has several responsibilities identified in the BLM ' Manual, including: a) "[d]eveloping and implementing programs for the conservation of special status ' species;" b) "[e]stablishing programs to determine which special status species occur on public land, the condition of the populations and their habitats, and how discretionary BLM actions affect those species and their habitats;" c) "[d]esignating BLM sensitive species, and periodically reviewing and updating the BLM sensitive species list;" d) [e]nsuring that provisions for the conservation of special status species, particularly the objectives from approved recovery plans and conservation agreements, aze incorporated into land use plans and subsequent Center for Native Ecosystems Scoping Comments for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine Page 4 of 24 '