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Wildlife The exploration area is an important range for deer, elk, and bear. Other animals in the exploration area include coyote, rabbit, porcupine, beaver, squirrel, mice and other rodents. The proposed exploration program will be scheduled to avoid conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big game hunting season. Operations will be located such as to not interfere with raptor nesting sites, including golden and bald eagle, and Peregrine falcon. Please refer to the attachments Wildlife Habitat Evaluations and Im~enlary for TBrE; Sensitive and Management Indicator Species reports prepared for Dry Fork and Lions Mesa exploration activities by Michael Ward and Monarch and Assoc. in 2004. Threatened or Endangered Species Please refer to the attachments Wildlife Habitat Evaluations and Inventory for T&E, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species reports prepared for Dry Fork and Lions Mesa exploration activities by Michael Ward and Monarch and Assoc. in 2004. These and previous surveys have not identified threatened or endangered plant or animal species within these or adjacent exploration areas. The surveys summarized below cover the Ravens Gulch exploration area. The Dry Fork and Lions Mesa exploration areas are within the area covered by the Final West- Central Colorado Coal Environmental Statement prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, BLM, 1979. The portion applicable to this section is covered on pages 573 through 582. The EIS wncluded that no threatened or endangered plants (pp.573-577), or aquatic species (pp. 580-582) exist in the area. The only endangered wildlife species is the bald eagle, which does inhabit the North Fork Gunnison Valley during the winter months. Several Environmental Analysis have been conducted on the Ravens Gulch Exploration Area, which includes the proposed Dry Fork Exploration Area. The most recent analysis was completed in 1998 for 19 drill holes and associated temporary access roads. The Decision Memo and Finding of No Significant Impact, Mountain Coal Company, Proposed Coal Exploration License, as approved by Mr. Ray L. Kingston, Paonia District Ranger (4-13-98), stated, `The proposed action will not adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat." The proposed activities on the Dry Fork and Lions Mesa areas are nearly identical to the approved activity on the Ravens Gulch Exploration License. The proposed exploration will occur in the late spring, summer, and early fall months and avoid riparian habitats to the extent possible. Operations will be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting sites, and scheduled to minimi~P conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big game hunting seasons. Land Use The prevailing land use of the acreage contained in this application is wildlife habitat. Surface topography is rugged. Limited camping, hunting, and cattle grazing occur in the proposed exploration area There are no highways or critical stmctures in this area The Dry Fork Road 5