Common use of Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence Clause in Contracts

Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. The species is an extreme habitat specialist associated with a single plant species that exists in an ecosystem that was previously more widespread and is now relict. Factors such as short life span, small clutch size, and the presence of natural competitors and predators contribute to the precarious status of this species. The species occurs in a fragmented range where populations are not connected for genetic exchange and are vulnerable to genetic drift and population loss due to random events. Because the species is not known to cross large expanses of unsuitable habitat, there is little chance of suitable habitat being recolonized without human intervention. Additionally, many natural events can quickly impact the shinnery oak system that would be equal to spraying with an herbicide or mechanically removing vegetation. Sudden Oak Death, drought, freezes, infestation of root boring insects, and a known lepidopteran parasite can quickly defoliate and kill giant stands of shinnery oak (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx 1998). Impacts from Exposure to Toxic Chemicals and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Emissions Oil fields can contain a variety of activities that release toxic pollutants including petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (e.g., phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo[a]anthracene), oil spills, and air pollutants (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1999). Xxxxxxx et al. (2008) reported that tissue samples taken from a sand dwelling lizard in Kuwait and its insect prey base (ants) contained PAH concentrations that increased with increasing exposure to these pollutants. Xxxxxxx et al. (2008) reported that the concentrations of PAHs in lizard and ant tissues could impact the function of vital organs. Lizards may not be able to remove these chemicals from their system quickly due to their slow metabolic rate and simple enzyme system (Xx-Xxxxxx et al. 2007). The exposure to oil field chemicals also impacts the behavior and foraging time for sand lizard species (Xxxxxxx et al. 2008). The sand dwelling lizard in Kuwait is of similar size and resides in similar habitat to SDL. Because much of SDL’s habitat is located in small dune patches within oil and gas fields, the potential for exposure to toxic pollutants including both oil spills and chemical leaks is high. Xxxx and Xxxxx (1997) found that the number of SDLs decline with the increase in number of well pads per section. This could be due to the destruction of the shinnery oak habitat and the presence of the caliche pads and roads. It could also be due to the presence of H2S gas emissions, other air pollutants, and other pollution-generating activities associated with petroleum extraction and processing near oil and gas xxxxx. For example, H2S is a highly toxic gas that is released during petroleum extraction and is the dominant reduced sulfur gas in oil fields (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx 1997). During petroleum extraction H2S is removed from the petroleum, and the emissions are released into the air where they can remain for a day or less. H2S is denser than air and tends to sink to the ground where it remains until it is neutralized (Xxxx and Xxxxx 2006). Xxxx and Xxxxx (2006) measured H2S near Loco Hills, New Mexico (25 miles east of Artesia) where historically large populations of sand dune lizards were once found. They reported concentrations of H2S as high as 33 parts per million (ppm) there for approximately 32 minutes. Most of the sulfur emitted by producing xxxxx, tank batteries, production facilities, gas plants, sweetening plants, and pipelines may ultimately end up in the soil. Surface soil tests in active oil fields in Texas found sulfate levels to range between 20-200 ppm near active facilities (Xxxxxx and Dasgupta 1997). This is relevant because SDLs dig-in just below the soil surface during hot parts of the day and at night, and thus would be in direct contact with the sulfates in the soil.

Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. ‌ The species is an extreme habitat specialist associated with a single plant species that exists in an ecosystem that was previously more widespread and is now relict. Factors such as short life span, small clutch size, and the presence of natural competitors and predators contribute to the precarious status of this species. The species occurs in a fragmented range where populations are not connected for genetic exchange and are vulnerable to genetic drift and population loss due to random events. Because the species is not known to cross large expanses of unsuitable habitat, there is little chance of suitable habitat being recolonized without human intervention. Additionally, many natural events can quickly impact the shinnery oak system that would be equal to spraying with an herbicide or mechanically removing vegetation. Sudden Oak Death, drought, freezes, infestation of root boring insects, and a known lepidopteran parasite can quickly defoliate and kill giant stands of shinnery oak (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx 1998). Impacts from Exposure to Toxic Chemicals and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Emissions Emissions‌ Oil fields can contain a variety of activities that release toxic pollutants including petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (e.g., phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo[a]anthracene), oil spills, and air pollutants (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1999). Xxxxxxx et al. (2008) reported that tissue samples taken from a sand dwelling lizard in Kuwait and its insect prey base (ants) contained PAH concentrations that increased with increasing exposure to these pollutants. Xxxxxxx et al. (2008) reported that the concentrations of PAHs in lizard and ant tissues could impact the function of vital organs. Lizards may not be able to remove these chemicals from their system quickly due to their slow metabolic rate and simple enzyme system (Xx-Xxxxxx et al. 2007). The exposure to oil field chemicals also impacts the behavior and foraging time for sand lizard species (Xxxxxxx et al. 2008). The sand dwelling lizard in Kuwait is of similar size and resides in similar habitat to SDL. Because much of SDL’s habitat is located in small dune patches within oil and gas fields, the potential for exposure to toxic pollutants including both oil spills and chemical leaks is high. Xxxx and Xxxxx (1997) found that the number of SDLs decline with the increase in number of well pads per section. This could be due to the destruction of the shinnery oak habitat and the presence of the caliche pads and roads. It could also be due to the presence of H2S gas emissions, other air pollutants, and other pollution-generating activities associated with petroleum extraction and processing near oil and gas xxxxx. For example, H2S is a highly toxic gas that is released during petroleum extraction and is the dominant reduced sulfur gas in oil fields (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx 1997). During petroleum extraction H2S is removed from the petroleum, and the emissions are released into the air where they can remain for a day or less. H2S is denser than air and tends to sink to the ground where it remains until it is neutralized (Xxxx and Xxxxx 2006). Xxxx and Xxxxx (2006) measured H2S near Loco Hills, New Mexico (25 miles east of Artesia) where historically large populations of sand dune lizards were once found. They reported concentrations of H2S as high as 33 parts per million (ppm) there for approximately 32 minutes. Most of the sulfur emitted by producing xxxxx, tank batteries, production facilities, gas plants, sweetening plants, and pipelines may ultimately end up in the soil. Surface soil tests in active oil fields in Texas found sulfate levels to range between 20-200 ppm near active facilities (Xxxxxx and Dasgupta 1997). This is relevant because SDLs dig-in just below the soil surface during hot parts of the day and at night, and thus would be in direct contact with the sulfates in the soil.