Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
coast and farther south and occupies a range of habitats during migration. It feeds primarily on
birds but will also consume other small vertebrate species. The peregrine falcon is threatened by
loss of wetland habitat of primary prey, poachers robbing nests, shooting by hunters, and
pesticide use (NatureServe, 2010b). This falcon was not observed during surveys and is not
known to occur within the permit area. While no surveys found peregrine falcons in the permit
area, marginal habitat exists for both hunting and nesting. Nesting habitat within the permit area
is restricted to arroyo canyons and cliffs (RHR, 2011a).
The gray vireo is a small, insectivorous bird. These birds migrate long distances arriving in the
southern United States around April. The gray vireo breeds in central New Mexico in areas
characterized by hot, semiarid, shrubby habitats, mesquite and brushy piñon -juniper woodlands,
chaparral, and desert scrub. Nests are cupped and suspended from forked twigs in shrubs or trees
(NatureServe, 2010c). Within New Mexico, some gray vireo populations have disappeared from
historic habitats but other populations have persisted (NMGF, 2010). Threats are unknown but
could include livestock grazing and habitat clearing (NatureServe, 2010c).
A gray vireo was reported in September of 2006 in Section 16. This is an extremely late record
for this species and the gray vireo was never recorded during point count surveys, which likely
means the species was misidentified during surveys. The Roca Honda permit area is probably too
high in elevation for gray vireo breeding. In central New Mexico, this highly localized species is
found at the base and lower slopes of foothills areas with juniper savannah and a healthy
grassland component, generally from 5,700 up to 6,400 feet. The lowest portions of the Roca
Honda site and pipeline route are above 6,900 feet. Gray vireos bear a close resemblance to
plumbeous vireos (a widespread migrant at Roca Honda well into September), and this species
could have been misidentified within the permit area. It is unlikely that this species occurs in the
permit area and gray vireos are not analyzed further in this document.
Roca Honda Mine Permit Area Forest Service Sensitive Species
A list of sensitive species with potential to occur within the project area was obtained in 2012
from the Forest Service. The Forest Service lists 21 wildlife species that occur or may occur in
the Mt. Taylor Ranger District. Table 36 lists these Forest Service sensitive species, a description
of their preferred habitat, and their potential to occur at the Roca Honda permit area.
Table 36. United States Forest Service sensitive species potential to exist in the permit
area
Common Name
(Scientific Name)
Northern leopard frog
(Rana pipiens)
Potential to
Occur in
Permit Area**
Amphibians
Habitat Description
NP Varity of habitats including springs, marshes, wet meadows,
riparian areas, vegetated irrigation canals, ponds, and reservoirs.
Requires a high degree of vegetative cover for concealment. In
New Mexico they are known from about 3,500-10,000 feet and
breed in ponds or lake edges with fairly dense aquatic emergent
vegetation. Overwintering habitats are larger lakes and streams that
do not freeze completely during winter.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 217