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EXHIBIT H-2 <br />Wildlife Information <br />The typical wildlife resources in Western Moffat County include: elk, mule deer, <br />antelope, mountain lion, and sage grouse. Other common year -around mammals are: <br />stripped skunk, badger, weasel, ermine, raccoon, gray fox, porcupine, deer mouse, <br />Richardson ground squirrels, white-tailed jackrabbit, cotton -tailed rabbit, and marmot. <br />Migrant birds include: Canadian Geese, national varieties of ducks, red-tailed hawk, <br />marsh hawk mourning dove, the great homed owl, black -billed magpie, and house <br />sparrow. <br />Common year around reptiles include wondering garter snake, bull snake and rattle <br />snake. <br />Most of Moffat County is normally considered to be critical year around range for elk, <br />deer, and antelope, however, the winter of 2007-2008 was one of the most devastating <br />winter -kill seasons for big game animals in modern memory. The competition for forage <br />in the coming years will be less that normal. The temporary loss of portions of the <br />Affected Area of the Smith Pit Amendment will have no significant impact on those <br />herds. <br />The Smith Pit No. 20 is on BLM land and it does not interfere with migratory routes, and <br />it is not a strutting ground for sage chickens. Amendment No. 1 will not change that. The <br />Little Snake Resource Area field office will manage the welfare of nesting "threatened <br />and endangered species" (and any other sensitive wildlife issues in the area) through their <br />Environmental Assessments and "stipulations" in our lease agreements. <br />In a general sense, Moffat County's open gravel pits are a magnet for wildlife, and when <br />reclaimed, the land will enhance the post -mining welfare of the overall wildlife habitat. <br />The Wildlife Questionnaire (Exhibit H-1) was sent to the D.O.W. — NW Region, 711 <br />Independent Ave., Grand Junction, CO 80907, on: <br />01/15/09 by Certified Mail #.7008 0150 0000 8871 0513 <br />