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MOUNTAIN COAL COMPANY <br />WEST ELK MINE <br />2005 <br />SHAFT # 4 AREA <br />WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATIONS AND INVENTORY <br />FOR <br />THREATENED AND ENDANGERED, SENSITIVE AND <br />MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The following information is a description of wildlife habitat and Threatened, <br />Endangered, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species surveys for the Mountain Coal <br />Company Proposed Shaft 44 Area. <br />A survey for all Federal and State listed Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive and <br />Management Indicator Species and associated habitat is required before road and vent <br />shaft site construction can begin. To satisfy this requirement, Mountain Coal contracted <br />with Michael Ward Outdoors to conduct the surveys and prepare a report presenting the <br />findings. Information requirements and methodologies for conducting the studies were <br />established with the USFS during prior years and were used during the 2005 surveys. <br />This report presents findings on the presence or absence of any listed species, habitat <br />availability and condition, presence of raptor nests and other bird species observed in the <br />study area. <br />PROJECT AREA <br />The project area is located on lands managed by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky <br />Mountain Region, Grand Mesa - Uncompahgre - Gunnison National Forest, Paonia <br />Ranger District. For purposes of this submittal, two locations for the access <br />roads and pads are described as alternatives for review: a Lower Pad which is <br />the Alternative MCC prefers, and an Upper Pad which is Alternative Two. The <br />lower pad site is approximately 1593 feet southeast of the Minnesota Reservoir; <br />the upper pad is approximately 1682 feet southeast of the Minnesota Reservoir. <br />Both locations are in the NE' /4 of Section 32, T.13S, R.90W, 6th Principal <br />Meridian, in Gunnison County, Colorado. <br />Surface features will include constructing a new access road extending from the <br />Minnesota Creek Road (USFS 710) at a point south and east of Minnesota Reservoir <br />and west of Deer Creek, and leading southwest on the contour to the shaft site. <br />* The lower pad and road alternative has an estimated total disturbance <br />of approximately 1.23 acres. <br />