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Fish and Wildlife - Rule 2.04.11
<br /> Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area. The most predominant are mule deer,
<br /> American elk, and black bear. Other species include: coyotes, long-tailed weasels, desert
<br /> cottontails, snowshoe hare, beaver, raccoon, Red squirrel, woodrat, ringtails, yellow
<br /> marmots, ermine, skunk, muskrat, badger, porcupine, bobcat, white-tailed jackrabbit,
<br /> marten, mink, red fox, grey fox, spotted skunk, deer mouse, long-tailed vole,
<br /> golden-mantled ground squirrel, chipmunk, red-backed vole, rock squirrel, western jumping
<br /> mouse, masked shrew, wandering shrew, various songbirds, upland gamebirds, waterfowl,
<br /> and raptors.
<br /> There is no designated critical habitat on the study area. However, the Fish and Wildlife
<br /> Service has proposed 2,094 river miles of the Colorado River and its tributaries as critical
<br /> habitat for the Colorado Squawfish, Razorback sucker, Humpback chub, and Bonytail chub.
<br /> These species, on the Federal and State candidate and listed species, have the potential of
<br /> occurring on the study area, or could be affected by a lease and subsequent coal
<br /> development. None of the fishes occur on the study area, or in the North Fork of the
<br /> Gunnison River.
<br /> The Colorado Division of Wildlife has established a corridor along the North Fork of the
<br /> Gunnison River for use by the: bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), which is a common
<br /> winter visitor to Colorado. BLM inventories conducted in 1978 through 1980, and
<br /> monitoring flights conducted through 1985, did not locate any roost or nest sites, or areas of
<br /> winter concentration on or near the study area. The possibility exists for nesting to occur
<br /> along the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
<br /> Loggerhead shrike (Lanus luctovicianus), Federal category 2 species, use has not been
<br /> recorded on the study area, although potential breeding and nesting habitat is present.
<br /> Loggerhead shrikes are dependent upon sagebrush and gambel oak shrub communities for
<br /> breeding and nesting habitat in this region during spring and summer. They are uncommon
<br /> in the area during winter.
<br /> For specific information regarding study areas, methods for identification and counting of the
<br /> various wildlife present in the area, see Section 2.04.11 of the permit document.
<br /> Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan - Rule 2.05.3 and 2.05.4
<br /> Mining at the West Elk underground mine began in 1982. The West Elk Mine lease block
<br /> consists of minable coal reserves in five Federal coal leases, one private lease and other fee
<br /> coal properties. Together the leases encompass approximately 15,500 acres.
<br /> Six major coal seams exist on the West Elk Mine property. The seams are identified by
<br /> letter with the A Seam being the lowermost and the F Seam the uppermost. The intervals
<br /> between the seams vary from as little as 15 feet to more than 250 feet.
<br /> The economically minable coal reserves in these leases occur in two of the six seams (the E
<br /> and B Seams). The B Seam has been mined and the E Seam is planned to be mined in Lease
<br /> D-044569; the B Seam has been mines in Leases COC-54558 and C-0117192, where mining
<br /> continues; the B Seam is planted to be mined in Lease COC-56447; and the B Seam has also
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