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Extraordinary Circumstances <br />The Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team ( IDT) screened the proposed action for <br />extraordinary circumstances: <br />1. The presence of any one of the extraordinary circumstances identified in 36 CFR <br />220.6 and <br />2. The potential for significant effects if an extraordinary circumstance occurred <br />Extraordinary circumstances evaluated in the analysis include: <br />1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat <br />species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service <br />sensitive species. <br />a. Wildlife — An onsite visit was conducted on April 28, 2011 and a <br />Biological Assessment and Evaluation was completed on August 01, <br />2011. No direct, indirect or Cumulative effects are expected on any TES species <br />in connection with activities associated with this project. The scale and extent <br />of this project is such that it would not have a discernible effect on any of <br />the Forest's MIS population trends. <br />b. Plants - There are no Threatened, Endangered, or Proposed plants known <br />or suspected to inhabit the Rio Grande National Forest. No Sensitive <br />species are known from the project area (the area where disturbance might <br />occur). A field reconnaissance was conducted and no Sensitive plant <br />species were encountered. These sites all have considerable ground <br />disturbance. An abbreviated Biological Evaluation format was utilized <br />because implementation of the proposed action would have no effect on <br />Threatened, Endangered, or Proposed plants. Furthermore, the proposed <br />action will have no impact on Forest Service designated Sensitive plants. <br />Implementation of the proposed action, including mitigation measures, <br />would not contribute to a loss of viability of any plant species or cause any <br />plant species to move toward federal listing. This project is consistent <br />with the Forest Service objectives relative to sensitive species. Literature <br />and habitat requirements for the Forest's special status plants are available <br />upon request. <br />2. Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds: <br />The San Luis Valley Public Land Center, Senior Natural Resource Specialist <br />inspected the site on April 28, 2011. BLMC will conduct excavation activities in <br />a manner that will not interfere or obstruct any authorized or appropriated use of <br />water by other parties. BLMC will obtain water from an existing water right for <br />the use of dust suppression. Findley Gulch is more than 525 ft. from the edge of <br />the proposed ground disturbing activities, well out of the water influence zone of <br />100 ft. Silt Fences and entrenchment rolls (wattles) will be installed down slope <br />of the disturbed area as necessary to control erosion and sedimentation from soil <br />disturbance on the excavation sites. This project will not affect a municipal <br />watershed or any floodplain or known wetland area. The proposed disturbances <br />Klondike Mineral Exploration Project - Decision Memo 6 1 P a g e <br />