Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Common Name
(Scientific name)
Black-footed ferret
(Mustela nigripes)
Zuni bluehead sucker
(Catostomus discobolus
yarrowi)
Federal
Status
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Potential to
Occur in
Permit Area**
Mammals
Habitat Description
E NP Open grasslands with year-round prairie dog
colonies. Strongly associated with black-tailed
prairie dogs
Fish
C NP Often inhabits swift water areas in mountain
streams and smaller tributaries to large rivers
(nursery habitat).
Source: USFWS, 2012a; USFWS, 2012b; RHR, 2009d; USFWS 2006-2009; NatureServe, 2012a
Status E Endangered T Threatened C Candidate NEP Non-Essential Population
Presence** K Known, documented observation within permit area.
S Habitat suitable and species could occur within the permit area.
NS Habitat suitable but species is not suspected to occur within the permit area.
NP Habitat not present and species unlikely to occur within the permit area.
Roca Honda Mine Permit Area State
Listed Threatened and Endangered Species
The New Mexico Biota Information System Web site State listed threatened and endangered
species for McKinley and Cibola Counties were reviewed in 2012 (NMGF, 2012). Table 35 lists
State listed threatened and endangered species, a description of their preferred habitat, and their
potential to occur at the Roca Honda permit area.
Table 35. New Mexico State listed threatened and endangered species potential to exist in
the permit area
Common Name
(Scientific name)
Bald eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
American peregrine falcon
(Falco peregrinus anatum)
Artic peregrine falcon
(Falco peregrinus tundris)
Southwestern willow
flycatcher
(Empidonax traillii extimus)
State
Status
Potential to
Occur in
Permit Area**
Birds
Habitat Description
T NP Mature shoreline forests with scattered openings
and little human use, near water with abundant
fish and waterfowl.
T S
(marginal
habitat)
Rare breeders (NM) in rocky, steep cliff areas,
generally near water or mesic canyons
T NP Nest in treeless tundra of Alaska, Canada, and
Greenland. Occasional winter migrant, but rare.
E NP Dense, riparian vegetation near surface water or
saturated soil, monotypic or mixed stands of
native and/or exotic species.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 215