Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Species Status Habitat and Distribution
Zuni milkvetch
(Astragalus
missouriensis var.
Acumbens)
Species of
Concern
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Gravelly clay banks and knolls, in dry
alkaline soils derived from sandstone, in
piñon-juniper woodland from 6,200-
7,900 feet. Known from McKinley and
Cibola Counties.
Potential to Occur in the
Permit Area or Along
Pipeline Route
No appropriate habitat. No
gravelly clay banks or knolls
are present in the permit area.
The soils in the permit area are
not saline.
None of these sensitive species is expected to occur along the proposed water reuse pipeline route
due to unfulfilled habitat requirements (McClain and Thompson, 2012).
Forest Service Sensitive Species
A list of Forest Service sensitive species with potential to occur within the project area was
obtained in 2012 from the Forest Service. The Forest Service listed four plant species that occur
or are suspected to occur in the Mt. Taylor Ranger District. Table 30 lists these species, a
description of their habitat, and their potential to occur at the Roca Honda permit area.
Table 30. Forest Service sensitive plants documented on the Mt. Taylor district
Species Habitat and Distribution
Zuni milkvetch
(Astragalus
missouriensis var.
Acumbens)
Villous ground cover
milkvetch (Astragalus
humistratus var.
crispulus)
Chaco milkvetch
(Astragalus micromerius)
Arizona leatherflower
(Clematis hirsutissima
var. hirsutissima)
Sivinski’s fleabane
(Erigeron svinskii)
(RHR, 2009d; CPC, 2010; UNM, 2005)
Gravelly clay banks and knolls, in dry alkaline
soils derived from sandstone, in piñon-juniper
woodland from 6,200-7,900 ft. Known from
McKinley and Cibola Counties.
Sandy soils of volcanic origin on slopes,
benches, and ledges in xeric pine forests from
7,250 – 8,150 feet.)
Gypseous or limy sandstones in piñon-juniper
woodland or Great Basin desert scrub from
6,600–7,300 feet. Known from McKinley
County.
Limestone outcroppings in ponderosa pine
forest.
Steep barren shale slopes of the Chinle
Formation in piñon-juniper woodland and
Great Basin desert scrub from 6,100-7,400
feet. Known from McKinley County.
Potential to Occur in the
Permit Area or Along the
Pipeline Route
No appropriate habitat. No gravelly
clay banks or knolls are present in
the permit area. The soils in the
permit area are not saline.
No appropriate habitat. No pine
forests.
No appropriate habitat. No
gypseous or limy sandstone was
observed in the permit area.
No appropriate habitat. No
limestone outcropping.
No appropriate habitat. There is no
Chinle Formation cropping out in
the permit area.
None of these sensitive species is expected to occur along the proposed water reuse pipeline route
due to unfulfilled habitat requirements (McClain and Thompson, 2012).
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 207