2017-02-15_REVISION - C1996083 (2)

Home Browse Search

A-19 Common Name Scientific Name Habitat 1 Potential Occurrence in Project Area Brown-capped rosy-finch Leucosticte australis Nests on cliffs or in caves, rock slides or old buildings above timberline. No Cassin’s finch Carpodacus cassinii Nests in montane forests with spruce/fir and aspen; also in lower pinyon-juniper woodlands. Yes 1 Based on Righter et al. 2004. Underground activities would have no impacts on migratory bird and/or raptor populations. There is potential for disturbance to migratory birds during drilling, access, and site reclamation activities associated with MDW drilling where vegetation would be disturbed on approximately 45 acres. This includes direct impacts to unidentified active nests, potential mortalities and injuries to birds and eggs in unidentified nests, and disturbance to suitable nesting habitat potentially resulting in incidental “take” of migratory birds. To minimize or avoid effects to nesting migratory birds, where practicable, the lessee would avoid vegetation removal during the migratory bird nesting period (May 15 to August 1). Raptors nesting in the project area could abandon nests because of noise and human presence during the breeding period, which varies by species. Recent surveys within the LBA tract did not observe raptor nests within woodland habitat 0.25 mile from the LBA tract or within cliffs 0.5 mile from the LBA tract. It is not expected that assumed surface activities would affect nesting raptors. • For any future proposed disturbances on the lease, a qualified biologist would conduct pre-construction breeding bird and raptor surveys during the breeding period within 0.5 mile of the general disturbance area (drill pads and access roads) if activities would occur during the breeding season (generally May 15 to August 1, but varies by species). Surveys would document active nests and aspen snag reconnaissance prior to surface disturbance. If no active nests are found and a survey report is submitted to and approved by the USFS or BLM Biologist, activities may begin within the cleared areas. If active nests are found, development timing would be restricted during the breeding season, as per the USFS or BLM authorized officer. • Where practicable, surface disturbing activities should not occur during the migratory bird nesting period (May 15 through August 1) to prevent potential take of migratory birds and/or eggs, unless vegetation is removed prior to May 15. Nesting surveys conducted within 2 weeks of surface-disturbing activities that indicate no migratory bird species are nesting or otherwise present within the area to be disturbed may also be considered; however, consultation and approval by USFS or BLM would be required. If active nests were identified during mine permit related project disturbances, appropriate measures would be taken in order to reduce impacts to these species, including relocating overland access routes and drill-hole locations, and implementing disturbance-free buffer zones and timing limitations for active nests as recommended by the USFS or BLM. • All unavoidable surface disturbances would require approval of the USFS or BLM Authorized Officer. The USFS or BLM would coordinate with USFWS to determine the