<br />INTRODUCTION
<br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC) operates the West Elk Mine under apennit (No. C-80-007) issued by
<br />the Colorado Division ofMineral and Geology (DMG). The location ofthe mine is approximately two
<br />miles east of Somerset, Colorado off Colorado State Highway133.
<br />UndertheMCC's ongoing exploratory drilling program, wells are drilled within themine pemlit boundary
<br />in order to assess new coal resources within the mine azea. Incompliance with the Endangered Species
<br />Act 1972 as amended, a clearance survey for all tlu~eatened and endangered wildlife and plant species is
<br />requiredbefore drilling canbegin. In addition, sensitive species are also addressed inthis report. The
<br />threatened and endangered and species of concern and their habitats as provided by the U. S. Fish and
<br />Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service are listed in Table 1.
<br />Asurveyisalsorequiredtoidentifyanyfragileorparticulazlysensitiveareasofconcem. These areas might
<br />include wetlands, riparian area, unusual topographic features, etc.
<br />The purpose of this report is to discuss habitat and potential occurrence of each threatened, endangered
<br />and sensitive species ofconcem (TES) at each drill pad, and to present the results ofthe June 12-13, 2001
<br />field survey.
<br />At least 5-acres were surveyed at each proposed drill site (Figure i).
<br />SITE LOCATION
<br />W est Ells Mine is located in Gunnison County approximately two miles east of Somerset, Colorado on
<br />-~ State Highway 133. Proposed drill pad sites are 96-27-1(T13S,R90W,Section 27,NE1/4,NW1/4),
<br />SOM 21 (T13S, R90W, Section 27, SEl/4, SWl/4), SOM 50 (T13S, R90W, Section 27, SWl/4,
<br />~, NEl/4), SOM 53 (T13S, R90W, Section 27, SEl/4, NEl/4), SOM 123 (T13S, R90W, Section 17,
<br />'~ NEl/4,NWl/4),SOM126(T13S,R90W,Section27,NE1/4,SE1/4),RAV2(T13S,R90W,Section
<br />26, NEl/4, NWl/4), RAV 8 (T13S, R90W, Section26, SWl/4, SEl/4), RAV-8 A1tA (T13S, R90W,
<br />Section 26, NW 1 /4, SEl/4), RAV-8 A1tB (T13S, R90W, Section 35, NW 1/4, NEl/4), RAV 10 (T13S,
<br />R90W, Section 26, NW l/4, SE1/4), and BBB (T13S, R90W, Section 23, SEl/4, NW 1/4). These sites,
<br />the area surrounding the high pressure hose (T13S, R90W, Section 28, NEl/4, NEl/4- Section 26,
<br />NWl/4, SE1/4), and the access roads shown on the map are addressed in this report (Figure 1).
<br />RESULTS
<br />The field investigationwas completed in two tasks. Task 1 entailed the determination ofsuitable habitat
<br />on the sites for each species ofconcem. Task 2 entailed a detailed species surveyifsuitable habitat was
<br />identified. All field work was completed on June 12-13, 2001.
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