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67/13/2601 03:00 3037219298 GREYSTONE PAGE 03/10 <br />TFIREATENED, ENDA[~GERED ARID SEl~SITlVE SPECIES <br />DRILL SITE CLEARANCE SURVEY FOR DRILL PAD SITE 14- <br />05 <br />,rs=?:~.:.n!mintymr-r~~m•ttu,uwmiwiww'wne~wmeRamnce.-icmc~-amens- ~^~-~-.z-~-~.?.~.?.s!c^p..~et.. mimmm~emu+r-.emwimMnicr.~r.~.~xwx~~!~e <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC) operates the West Elk Mine under a permit (No. C-80-007) <br />issued by the Colorado Division of Mineral and Geology (DMG). The location of the mine is <br />approximately two miles east of Somerset, Colorado, south of Colorado State Highway 133. <br />Under MCC's ongoing exploratory drilling program, wells are drilled within the mine permit <br />boundary in order to assess new coal resources within the mine area. In compliance with the <br />Endangered Species Act of 1972, as amended, a clearance survey for all threatened and <br />endangered wildlife and plant species is required before drilling can begin. In addition, sensitive <br />species designated by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are also addressed in this report. The <br />species of concern for the area as provided by the USFS are listed in Table 1. <br />A survey is also required to identify any fragile or particularly sensitive areas of concern. These <br />areas mught include wetlands, riparian area, unusual topographic features, etc. <br />The purpose of this report is to discuss habitat and potential occurrence of each threatened, <br />endar~,ered and sensitive species of concern (TES) at each drill pad, the potential for their <br />occurrence, and to present the results of the June 12, 2001, field survey. <br />SITE LOCATION <br />West Elk Mine is located in Gunnison County approxirately two miles east of Somerset, <br />Colorado on State Highway 133. Proposed drill pad site 14-05 is addressed in this report. Drill <br />pad site 14-OS is located in NE/AiW Section 26, Township 14 South, Range 90 West (Figure 1). <br />RESULTS <br />The field investigation was completed in two tasks. Task 1 entailed the determination of suitable <br />habitat on the sites for each species of concern. Task 2 entailed a detailed species survey if <br />suitable habitat was identified. All field work was completed on June 12, 2001. <br />Drill pad site 14-OS occurs near the southern end of theWest Flatizon and is approximately 8,450 <br />feet above mean sea level (MSL). The site is dominated by Gambel's oak, with servicebeny and <br />chokecherry also present. The drilling will actually occur on an existing access road. Some <br />immature shrubs will be removed as a result of the drill pad; however, the majority of the site <br />occurs within the road. <br />ziofroan r.a sn. taosvm. u, zoos <br />