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E Seam Drill Hole for Concrete Delivery Project Plan Minor Revision 333 Page 4 of 9 the Aspen groves. Sandstone bedrock is present throughout most of this area as observed from the rock outcroppings. WII.DLIFE Vegetation communities in the project area include: Mountain shrub (dominated by Gambel oak), Aspen, Gambel oak, Spence-Fir, Douglas fir and Grass/forbs. Wildlife species associated with these habitat types are commonly found throughout this portion of the North Fork Basin The project area is an important range for deer, elk, and bear. Other animals in the Protect area include coyote, rabbit, porcupine, beaver, squirrel, mice and other rodents. The proposed well project will be managed 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 Additional wildlife information wining to the area is contained in the report titled, "Box Canyon West Methane Drainage Wells, Wildlife Habitat Evaluations and Inventory for T&E, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species" prepared by Michael Ward Outdoors and Monarch & Associates dated June 2005, submitted with the MR-306 Annual Operating Plan. THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES Previous Threatened and Endangered and Sensitive Species (T'ESS) clearance surveys have not identified threatened or endangered plant or animal species on West Flatiron; Dry Fork, or within adjacent coal exploration areas of Ravens Gulch or Sylvester Gulch Previous reports titled, "Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Drill Site Clearance Survey for Panels 16, 17, and 17S, October 2001" and "T7rreatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Clearance Survey for Panels 18 through 24, West Elk Mine, October 2001", indicate that none of the TESS species that could potentially occur within the Gunnison National Forest would be adversely impacted by the proposed ProJ~- The Final West-Central Colorado Coal Environmental Statement prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, BLM, 1979 describes the vegetation areas adjacent to the MDW project area on pages 573 through 577. The EIS concluded that no threatened or endangered plants (pp.573-577) exist in the area adjacent to the proposed drilling location The Wildlife Section (pp. 577-582) includes description of the lands associated with the MDWs 19-09, 19-10 and 19-11. The only threatened wildlife species is the bald eagle, which inhabits the North Fork Gunnison Valley during the winter months.