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EXHIBIT H <br />Wildlife Information <br />To evaluate potential wildlife habitat impacts from the proposed operation, information <br />was gathered during site investigations and from the Natural Diversity Information <br />Source (NDIS). The NDIS combines plant and animal abundance data from the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and other Colorado natural resource agencies to be <br />used for land-use analyses and decision making. In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (USFWS) maintains a list of federally threatened and endangered species as <br />well as candidate species for the State of Colorado. This list was reviewed and animal <br />species that appear on this list that are potentially applicable to the project include the <br />following: <br />Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) <br />Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) <br />Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) <br />Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) <br />Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) <br />Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp coloradensis) <br />Ute ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) <br />There are small areas of the site that contain seedling plains cottonwood (Populus <br />deltoides) and mature Chinese elm (Ulmus parvitblia) trees however the mature trees <br />are all fairly degraded. A review of DOW NDIS map data for the bald eagle indicates <br />that the project site is not near any known bald eagle nests. Thus, it is unlikely that the <br />project will have effects on the bald eagle. More detailed information is available in the <br />attached Birds of Prey Survey. <br />Burrowing owls favor prairie dog holes for nesting in the spring and early summer <br />months. This habitat type was present for a number of years however the last 12 years <br />or so have seen frequent earth moving activity and widespread soil disturbance. There <br />is also a lack of natural habitat within the project area as it is covered by <br />weedy/disturbed habitat at present. Refer to the Burrowing Owl Survey for more specific <br />information. <br />The black-footed ferret and the black-tailed prairie dog are usually found together. <br />Based on the previous observations it is unlikely prairie dogs are inhabiting the project <br />site and thus anticipate that without the prairie dogs, ferrets are unlikely to be present. <br />We do not anticipate impacts to either of these species. <br />An investigation completed by Tiglas Ecological Services to determine if the Preble's <br />meadow jumping mouse habitat was present on this property, and no potential habitat <br />was found. This led Ms. Darcy Tiglas, to conclude that there is no presence of the <br />Preble's meadow jumping mouse. In addition, we have submitted a request for <br />exclusion of this property to the USFWS and have attached the response letter from the <br />Derr Pit Project <br />JET Consulting, Inc. DMG 112 Permit <br />30