PERMFILE41066

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 10/10/2003
• Doc Name: T & E Species Assessment - Elk Crk Exploration Project ‎(June 2001)‎
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 2.04-E7 Part 4
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Savage and Savage conducted an assessment of threatened and endangered species
habitat and presence for six exploration drill hole locations north of the Oxbow Mining
Company Sanborn Creek Mine in Gunnison and Delta counties, .Colorado, 'The
assessment consisted of background literature and database searches and a vehicular and
pedestrian survey of the drill hole locations, buffer azeas, and one proposed mad segment.
Of the species of special concern identified as potentially occurring in the area, only the
Grand Mesa penstemon (Penstemon mensarum) is potentially present within three of the
exploration drill hole sites. Remaining identified species were not located within the
distwbance areas or potential habitat was not present in the drill hole locations,
INTRODUCTION
Savage and Savage conducted a threatened and endangered species assessment on behalf
of Oxbow Mining, Inc. at the request of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology
(CDMG) and the U.S. Bweau of Land Management (BLM). Both agencies requested
threatened and endangered species assessments for exploration drill holes to be
developed this yeaz. The drill hole sites and associated disturbances aze located within
Section 31, TI2S, R90W, Sections 35 and 36, T12S, R91 W, Sections 5, 6, and 7, TI3S,
R90W, and Sections 1 and 12, T13S, R91W within Gunnison and Delta counties,
• Colorado. All drill hole locations are northeast of the mining facilities immediately north
of Colorado Highway 133 and the Town of Somerset, Colorado.
The six exploration drill holes to be developed this season are located north and west of
the existing mine facilities. All but one (OM-Ol-09) are located along existing unpaved
roads. Development of drill hole OM-OI-09 will entail construction of approximately
one mile of roadway between two existing roads. The distwbance associated with the
exploration drill holes will include removing topsoil, leveling the pad for the drill rig and
ancillary equipment, and constructing a pit for drilling water containment: The azea of
distwbance for each of the six exploration drill hole sites is approximately 84' wide and
260' long (approximately 0.5 acres).
METHODS
To initially identify the species of special concern potentially occumng within he azea, a
background review of the North Fork Coal Final Environmental Impact Statement
(USDI, USDA, 2000), a Colorado Natwal Heritage Program database search, and a
review of the Colorado State University Natural Diversity Information Source database
were undertaken. These searches identified the location of potential habitat and
occurrence of species of special concern as well as habitat for raptors, eagles, and big
game within the exploration disturbance azea.
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