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MOUNTAIN COAL COMPANY <br />2005 <br />DRY FORK EXPLORATION LICENSE <br />WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATIONS AND INVENTORY <br />FOR THREATENED & ENDANGERED, <br />SENSITIVE AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES <br />INTRODUCTION <br />This is a continuation of work associated with exploration drilling programs <br />that have been going on for several years. Information included in this <br />report was gathered during surveys conducted from mid-May through early <br />June 2005 <br />Information requirements and methodologies were established during <br />consultations with United States Forest Service (USFS) biologists during <br />previous studies. These same methodologies have been used in subsequent <br />years for other drilling programs, and include, assessment of habitat <br />conditions and wildlife presence at each proposed drill site and along each <br />road corridor. <br />Wildlife surveys were conducted for a radius of 400 feet around each site <br />and 400 feet either side of proposed road corridors. Emphasis was placed on <br />Threatened & Endangered (T&E), Sensitive and Management Indicator <br />Species (MIS). In addition to these surveys, suitable raptor nesting habitat <br />within a 1/4 mile radius of each drill site or road corridor was checked for <br />active and inactive nests. However, in those cases where ridgelines or <br />stands of trees created visual barriers, raptor surveys were only conducted in <br />suitable habitat found on the drill site/access road side of the ridge or stand <br />of trees. There are also instances where other features created suitable visual <br />barriers that affected distances from drill sites or roads that were surveyed. <br />Each site and access road was surveyed for: (1) habitat type and condition, <br />(2) raptor nesting activity, (3) presence of T&E, Sensitive and Management <br />Indicator Species, (4) other bird species and (5) activities of other wildlife. <br />