Representative important species (RIS) are those species selected by the applicant and approved by the Department that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: Species that are sensitive to adverse harm from operations of the facility (for example, heat-sensitive species); Species that use the local area as spawning or nursery grounds, or both, including those species that migrate past the facility to spawn; Species of commercial or recreational value, or both; Species that are habitat formers and are critical to the functioning of the local ecosystem; Species that are important links in the local food web; Rare, threatened, or endangered species; Potential nuisance organisms likely to be enhanced by plant operations.