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Exhibi! H- <br />A small amount of potential PMJM habitat was observed in the southwest corner of the <br />Expansion Area Soutlt. This habitat contained a thick understory of willow. However, the <br />floodplain above the habitat was previously disturbed with short grass and bare ground. In <br />addition, the willow habitat is isolated and is not linked with sitnilar habitats along the east side of <br />the South Platte River. This area will not be disturbed by the proposed project because it is <br />adjacent to the South Platte River and there will be a 100-foot buffer from the river that will not <br />be disturbed by the proposed operations. The Expansion Area is also in the Denver Block <br />Clearance area for the PMJM, so this species is unlikely to occur on the site (USFWS 2005). <br />The CNHP was also contacted and a database search was performed for Township ] South, <br />Range 67 West, Section 26 (CNHP 2005). This search indicated that black-footed ferrets <br />potentially occur within atwo-mile radius of the Expansion Area. However, no habitat for this <br />species was observed during the site visits performed by Greystone biologists. There are no <br />CNHP designated Potential Conservation Areas located within the Expansion Area. <br />The CDOW provided a list of state species of special concern (CDOW 2004, CDOW 2005a) that <br />potentially occur within the project area as listed in Table H-2. The CDOW data indicated that no <br />production or foraging areas for piping plover or least tern occur within the Expansion Area <br />(CDOW 2004). <br />Table H-2 <br />CDOW S ecies of S ecial Concern in Adams Coun <br />Common Name Scientific Name Status <br />Birds <br />Burrowin owl Athene cunicularia State Threatened <br />Mammals <br />Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus State S ecial Concern <br />Black-tailed Prairie Dog <br />In 2004 the USFWS reassessed the petition to list the black-tailed prairie dog (BTPD) as <br />threatened, and determined that it is not likely to become an endangered species within the <br />foreseeable future and no longer meets the ESA definition of threatened (USFWS 2004). <br />Therefore, in August 2004, the BTPD was removed from the ESA Candidate List (USFWS <br />2004). <br />A large portion of the Expansion Area South contained BTPD habitat. Burrows were observed <br />throughout the area. However, many of the burrows were inactive or were recently filled in. <br />Many burrows were filled in with gravel. Some of the burrows did show signs of activity from <br />recent digging and prairie dog scat. In addition, three black-tailed prairie dogs were observed in <br />the upland grass habitat near Brighton Road. CDOW does not recommend disturbing active <br />prairie dog towns. <br />Burrowing Owl <br />Burrowing owls are primarily found in grasslands, usually in or near prairie dog towns. <br />Burrowing owls have been identified within Adams County (CDOW 2005a). Potential burrowing <br />owl habitat occurs in the Expansio^ Area South containing prairie dog towns. However, as <br />1898-Frei ] 12 Exhibi[s_(4.20.05).doc H-5 <br />