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PepQ-4 iii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 999 PEABODY WESTERN 1300 South Vale Flagstart, Arizona 86001 (602) 774-5253 RECEIVE July 21, 1992 `JUL 2 31992 Ms. Susan Morrison DIVISION OF Mined Land Reclamation Division MINERALS 8 GEOLOGY 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 R8: Baseline Wildlife Studies - Proposed Yoaet Mine Permit Area Dear Ms. Morrison: Peabody is preparing to conduct baseline wildlife studies at the proposed Yoast mining area for a permit application to be submitted in 1993. Pursuant to Item 2, Part 2.04.11 of the Colorado Rules and Regulations, and recommendations in the December, 1988 Guidelines for Compliance with Fish and Wildlife requirements, this letter outlines Peabody's proposed plan for conducting the studies at the Yoast area. The Yoast area consists of 2,785 acres of proposed permit area and 74 acres of haul road corridor (Map 1). It is situated approximately 3.5 miles east of the Seneca II-W permit area and 6.0 miles southwest of the Seneca II permit area. Wildlife habitats and vegetation communities are very similar among the three areas due to their close proximity. Attachment 1 lists the vegetation communities found at the Yoast area and haul road corridor. Baseline wildlife studies at the Seneca II Mine were conducted from May, 1979 through the summer of 1980. Five major habitats were considered: mixed brush, upland sagebrush, gambel oak, aspen woodland, and riparian. The studies consisted of: 1) small mammal trapping; 2) passerine and upland game bird strip transects; 3) raptor breeding and roosting surveys; 4) searches for upland game bird breeding grounds; 5) waterfowl counts; 6) aerial and ground surveys for big game with special attention to browse condition and utilization, critical habitat use, and elk calving areas; 7) predator scent station surveys; 8) qualitative herpetofauna investigations; 9) sweep-netting for