Laserfiche WebLink
10/29/1999 09:06 9708567819 <br />MONARCH & ASSOCIATES <br />PAGE 02 <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIII III Doc Date:12/11/2001 <br />~J <br />Consultants <br />Drive Cedaredge, Colorado 81413 Phone ~ FAIt (970) <br />~lF RAG Empire Corporetion -Permit No. C 51.044 <br />Threatened end Endangered Speeies Evaluation <br />In an April 8, 19981etter from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to the Division of Minerals <br />and Geology (DMG) a eumber of listed species potentially occuring in the area of concern. This <br />list included plants and animals that have been designated as threatened or endangered (T&.~ by <br />the FWS. Subsequent to that letter the FWS has added and deleted some species. The information <br />contained herein is based upon the current listings. In addition to the FWS list, species listed by <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) (animals only) a9 T~:E are also addressed. <br />OF importance when addressing the issue of T&E species is risk to any of the species from a <br />proposed action. In this case the permit renewal is for an underground mine operation which is <br />currently inactive. Given the current status of the mine any potrntial for affecting one or more of <br />these species or their habitat is very romone and in virtually atl cases probably non-existent <br />• <br />Mammals <br />The only species of mammals lisped by the FWS or CDOW that are known to occur in the region <br />are the black footed-ferret (federal and state endangered) and the Southwest river otter (state <br />endangered). The ferret is known to occur in Moffat County, but no known prairie dog colonies <br />on which the ferrets depend occur in the vicinity of the mine. The Southwest river otter could <br />occur in the Yampa River and possibly in the Williams Fork River, but would not be affected by <br />any of the proposed actions. <br />Birds <br />The peregrine falcon which was hated in the April 8,1998 letter as endangered was delisted on <br />August 25, 1999. <br />The bald eagle is currently hated sa threatened, but the ~YS is in the process of removing the eagle <br />from the list of T&E species. I[ is expected that removal of the bald eagle from the list will occur in <br />the year 2000. Prior to that time any activity that would affect these birds or their habitat would <br />have to be addressed. Bald eagles are known to nest and winter in the area of the mining <br />operation. However, no activities associated with the mine: are known to have disturbed these <br />birds in the past Based upon the current level of activity at the mine it would not be expected that <br />any of these birds would be disturbed. <br />The Mexican spotted owl is listed as threatened and is shown as occuring in Moffat County. There <br />is one known observation from Dinosaur National Monument to the west However, there is no <br />delineation of critical habitat fa these birds and suitable habitat does not exist in the immediate <br />vicinity of the mine. <br />• The whooping crane which is listed a9 rndangered by both the FWS and CROW has been <br />observed on rare occasions in Northwest Cdorado, usually ag a migrant. There is a chance that <br />one or mote of these birds could come through and possibly stop over in the Big Bottom area <br />