_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (156)

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^r United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ..---� COLORADO FIELD OFFICE 730 SIMMS STREET ROOM 292 GOLDEN,COLORADO 80401 IN REPLY REFER TO: FWE/CO:CO Mined Land Reclamation: 1990 Grand Junction Mail Stop 65412 January 26 , 1990 Mr. Jim McArdle Senior Reclamation SpecialistLA " Mined Land Reclamation Division 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mr. McArdle: We received your letter of December 19 , 1989 , regarding reclamation of 15 inactive mine areas situated in Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, E1 Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Gunnison, Jackson, Las Animas , Mesa, Montrose, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Summit and weld counties, Colorado . It appears that federally listed endangered or candidate species may occur in the area of influence of some of the reclamation activities scheduled for the inactive mine sites. We understand that the main purpose of these activities is safeguarding hazardous mine openings . Our primary concern relates to the impact that may occur to listed and candidate species as a result of any required surface disturbance or blasting. We are providing you the following species list for each of the inactive mine sites. Historically, the black-footed ferret occurred throughout Colorado. Literature and recent field studies document a close association between prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets. The standard that is used by the Service for determining possible project effects to black-footed ferrets is the disturbance of currently occupied prairie dog habitat. Should any of the activities associated with this project result in an impact to prairie dogs, black-footed ferret surveys may be necessary. As black-footed ferret surveys are considered valid for one year, prairie dog towns surveyed more than one year prior to construction may have to be resurveyed. Bald eagles are common winter visitors to Colorado. Bald eagles are known to fly up to 18 miles from night roosts to feeding areas and it is likely that even greater distances are traveled searching for food and the species may therefore occur in the project area.