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New Elk Coal Company LLC <br />December 30, 2012 <br />Page 6 <br />from consideration by this T&E Inventory Update based on available distribution and range <br />data (i.e., no documented occurrences in Las Animas County or in the upper Purgatoire <br />River watershed) were the following: whooping crane, least tern, southwestern willow <br />flycatcher, plains sharp - tailed grouse, piping plover, lesser prairie- chicken, boreal toad, <br />plains minnow, suckermouth minnow, northern redbelly dace, southern redbelly dace, <br />brassy minnow, and common shiner. Additionally, no critical or required habitat exists within <br />the mine permit boundary for these species. <br />• The following state - listed or federal listed or candidate species occur within Las Animas <br />County, but are not found within or near the mine permit area based on an analysis of <br />habitat requirements and documented species distributions (see Table 1): burrowing owl, <br />Mexican spotted owl, Arkansas darter, black- footed ferret, Canada lynx, New Mexico <br />meadow jumping mouse, and North American wolverine. <br />Gunnison's prairie dog potentially occurs within the mine permit boundary due to the <br />presence of suitable habitat and range mapping in the vicinity. However, no rodent colonies, <br />including prairie dog colonies, were observed during pre - permitting surveys in or near the <br />mine boundary. 14 Suitable habitat (ground suitable for digging burrows within preferred <br />vegetation associations) is patchy and disjunct. Additionally, the Colorado Gap Analysis <br />Project's predictive mapping for the species maps suitable habitat, but no known <br />occurrences of the species, in the vicinity of the mine permit area." Activities related to <br />reclamation at within the mine permit boundary are likely to improve habitat for this species. <br />I hope this inventory provides you and the DRMS with the information you need to address the <br />Permit Renewal Application Adequacy Review for Lorencito Canyon Mine. Please don't hesitate <br />to call me at 527 -8445 if you have any questions or require further information. <br />Sincerely, <br />Rare Earth Science, LLC <br />Dawn Reeder <br />Principal Biologist <br />Enc: Figure 1 — Regional & Local Locator Maps, Figure 2 — Topographic Map <br />RARE EARTh SCIENCE <br />