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MOUNTAIN COAL COMPANY WEST ELK MINE 2005 PROPOSED SYLVESTER GULCH ROAD WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATIONS AND INVENTORY FOR THREATENED & ENDANGERED, SENSITIVE AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES INTRODUCTION The following information is a description of wildlife habitat and Threatened and Endangered, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species surveys for the proposed Sylvester Gulch Road. A survey for all Federal and State listed Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species and associated habitat is required before road building can begin. To satisfy this requirement, Mountain Coal contracted with Michael Wazd Outdoors to conduct the surveys and prepaze a report presenting the findings. Information requirements and methodologies for conducting the studies were established with the USFS during prior years of studies and were used during the 2005 studies. This report presents findings on the presence or absence of any listed species, habitat availability and condition, presence of raptor nests and other bird species observed in the study azea. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING T & E, SENSITIVE AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES In reviewing the list of species and their habitat requirements provided by the USFS the conclusion can be drawn that habitat for most of these species is lacking along the proposed access road. The proposed access road adjacent to the bottom of Sylvester Gulch has the potential to affect some riparian habitat along the immediate bottom. Caze will have to be taken to locate the road in a manner that impacts to the bottom and springs adjacent to the bottom, which aze important to wildlife, will be minimized. Mitigation measures should be implemented to compensate for potential impacts. Suitable habitat is lacking for the only ground dwelling Federal and State listed mammals. There is no suitable lynx denning or wintering habitat that will be disturbed by construction of the proposed road. Canada Lyme could possibly move through the azea, but it is doubtful any would remain. There is no suitable habitat for black-footed ferrets in the area. Spotted and big-eared bats may occur in the azea, but no habitat they would use for roosting or hibernaculums would be affected by activities associated with proposed operations. Given the habitat requirements of many bird species listed as Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive (TES), or Management Indicator Species the possibility of affecting any habitat important to these species is minimal. It is known that some of the iisted species occur in