2011-05-12_PERMIT FILE - M2011028 (2)

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abandoned in place is coated with this material. No asbestos is present in either of the MAPCO pipeline coatings. 2.3 Pipeline Product Conversion MAPCO proposes to convert the product carried in their 10-inch-diameter pipeline from NGL to petroleum product. The potential for releases of petroleum product and possible impacts are addressed in Chapter 3 of the attached Environmental Assessment (EA) and as Attachment A. 3. SPECIES ACCOUNTS This section of the report addresses potential effects of the pipeline relocation project on federally listed threatened and endangered species. This assessment is provided to the FWS, as required under section 7 of the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Listed species include two endangered fishes, the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, and two birds, including the threatened bald eagle and the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. The Gunnison sage grouse and yellow-billed cuckoo are federal candidate species (see table B-1). Neither the northern or southern pipeline alternative would affect habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher, Gunnison sage grouse, or yellow-billed cuckoo. Habitat for these species, except for the southwestern willow flycatcher, is not present in the project area. Habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher may be found in the project area but it would not be impacted by the project. Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker are found in the San Juan River downstream of the project area. The Gunnison sage grouse, with their habitat preference for sagebrush vegetation, are restricted to eight isolated populations in Colorado (areas to the northwest, north, and northeast of the project area) and Utah; total population is less than 5,000. Some populations are small, fewer than 150 breeding birds, and several former populations have become extirpated since 1980. Neither the Ridges Basin area nor La Plata County is within the distributional area of the isolated populations of the species. Suitable sagebrush vegetation cover does not exist in the project area. It is unlikely that the Gunnison sage grouse occurs or would occur in the project area, and the proposed pipeline construction or operation would not affect this species. The yellow-billed cuckoo is an obligate, riparian species that prefers dense, mature stands of cottonwoods and other large riparian-associated trees. Nesting sites have been reported south of the pipeline relocation project area. However, riparian vegetation characteristic of the structural and species component defining suitable yellow-billed cuckoo habitat is not present in the Ridges Basin project area, and cuckoos have not been observed in the area. There are few riparian trees located in the project portions of Basin Creep or Wildcat Creek, and this fragmented habitat is not conducive to yellow-billed cuckoo. Such suitable habitat, however, could occur in the mature cottonwood stands along the Animas River or portions of Lightner Creek. These areas would not be affected by the proposed project. It is unlikely that the yellow- billed cuckoo occurs or would occur in the project area, and the proposed pipeline construction or operation would not affect this species. 3.1 Colorado Pikeminnow 3.1.1 Status and Critical Habitat The Colorado pikeminnow is a cyprinid fish species endemic to the Colorado River Basin. The species was once distributed throughout the major rivers and tributaries of the basin in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California (Jordan 1891; Tyus 1991). This species is the B-4 Weerninuche Construction Authority P.O. Box AA - Towaoc, CO 81334 /?/a? MAS C-a l.A?:lE.12- ?aiLAtl El. k- I4-1 e. (T N - PAGE u -5Go I