2014-03-21_PERMIT FILE - C1996084 (2)

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New Elk Coal Company LLC December 30, 2012 Page 5 Common Scientific Legal Known Range, Habitat Requirement Summary, and Expected within Permit Name Name Status" Occurrence Potential Boundary? Mammals Needs large active prairie dog colonies (greater than 200 acres in size); species is extirpated from the state (only experimental populations exist). No substantial prairie Black- footed Mustela FEx p SE dog colonies exist within the mine permit boundary. No No ferret nignpes , rodent colonies, including prairie dog colonies, were observed during Pre-permitting surveys in or near the mine boundary.' Species does not occur within or near the permit boundary and suitable habitat is not present. Mostly confined to high - elevation mountains in dense spruce/fir /mixed conifer /lodgepole pine forests (primary Lynx habitat), or mixed aspen /conifer (secondary habitat). Canada lynx canadensis FT, SE Species does not occur within or near the permit No boundary and suitable habitat is not present. The nearest marginally suitable habitat lies several miles west in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mine permit boundary lies at or near the east edge of the known range of this species. Preferred habitat is grasslands, and semi -desert or montane shrublands. Suitable habitat in the permit boundary is limited and not Gunnison's Cynomys FC ideal. No rodent colonies, including prairie dog colonies, Yes prairie dog gunnisoni were observed durin�q pre- permitting surveys in or near the mine boundary.' Additionally, the Colorado Gap Analysis Project's predictive mapping for the species maps suitable habitat but no known occurrences of the species in the vicinity of the mine permit area." Uses dense persistent emergent herbaceous wetlands at the edge of permanent open water, and scrub -shrub New Mexico Zapus wetlands along perennial streams. The documented meadow hudsonius FC range of this species includes Las Animas County, but No jumping luteus only as a disjunct population east of Raton Pass at the mouse Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area (far from the mine permit boundary). Also, only very minimal habitat would exist within the permit boundary. No specific habitat requirements, but high elevations (alpine) environs preferred; deep, persistent, and reliable North spring snow cover (April 15 to May 14) is the best overall American Gulo gulo FC, SE predictor of wolverine occurrence. Only one individual No wolverine luscus recently documented in the State of Colorado (in the northwest part of the state), not in Las Animas County. The nearest marginally suitable habitat lies several miles west in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Summary of Findings • State - listed threatened and endangered species were screened for documented occurrences in Las Animas County or the upper Purgatoire River watershed. Eliminated RARE EARTh SCIENCE