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10f21l2005 14:53 9709295595 WEST ELK PAGE 04 <br />Oet 21 2005 14:40 PRDt1Ip RRIYGER DISTRICT 970 527 41$; P,4 <br />Gewis's woodpecker - Lr Colorado Le~ris's woodpeckers sire common up to 7,000 feet <br />and rarer at higher elevations (Andrews and Righter 1992'). The lower elevation areas of <br />dac GMIJG National Forest are within fire range of this spocies. In Colorado; Lewis's <br />woodpeckers were fotuterly repotted breeding primarily in ponderosa pine habitat, but <br />since the 195G's they have expanded their nesting range to cottonwoods associated with <br />stream bottoms and mare open plains habitats (l~norr 1959)_ The Colorado Breeding <br />Bird Atlas (Kingery 1998) confirmed breeduag in riparian habitats (typically within sight <br />of pinyon/juniper woodlands or ponderosa pine stands) and nests were found in dead or <br />decaying cottonwoods. <br />'' The proposed project lies within oakbrush, l ahitat above 7,000 feet in elevation. The <br />proposed drilling project will not impact suitable breeding habitats (ponderosa, pine, or <br />cottonwood riparian areas) therefore, the project will have no effect on :Forest-wide <br />populations of Lewis's woodpec]ers. ' <br />Colorado River Cutfnraar Trans -Colorado River Cutthroat trout do not occur within <br />any of the perennial streams that exist within the project area or region of influence. <br />Land Use: The project proposal may include a very sutail length of [etnporary road <br />constnlctioa to the proposed well pad construction site. The project ltmposal lies within <br />the'West Elk Inventoried ltoadless Area. Tu accorclaitce with Forest Service Interhn <br />Directive ID-1920-2004.1., The GMUG completed aForest-wide Roads,rl~talys%s Process <br />in Irute• 2005, allowarg approval. of this proposal by the District:Raager. <br />PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. Due to the critical teutporal, need to protect health and <br />human safety by displacing cazbon monoxide in rite underground mine, and prevent a <br />potential a thermal event, extensive public i:avalvement was not feasible. <br />I2ECLAMA.TION BONAING: Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology znay <br />require additional surface reclamation bonding far the surface disturbing activities in this <br />proposal. <br />The GMUG bas required a Performance Bond as part of the required Road Use Permit <br />for West Elk Mine's use of existing Forest rands. As the proposal includes only the <br />possibility of less theft 1/8 mile of additional temporary road, and use of toads c•,trrently <br />underpetmit for MCC°s use, this amount does not need to be re-calctilated. <br />V. iFINDII~IG <br />After review of the original EA and considering the cheagcd circttntstances in Section II <br />of this docwnent, I Firtd that no additional environrnenZ<tl analysis i.s needed in order to <br />implement the well pad and drill holes described above. Tltis activity is consistent with <br />lease stipulations on coal lease COC-56447 and will be perfarrned according w <br />Conditions of Approval identiftcd in the EA, AecisioANofice and Findisag of No <br />Significant Impact for the Panel 16-24 Methane Draimage Project. <br />