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Breeding Birds <br />Forty one species of breeding birds were observed during the surveys. Species distribution observed <br />in specific habitats were: 28 species in bottomland areas, ZO species in mountain brush, 17 species <br />in aspen, and 15 species in sagebrush. <br />Small Mammals <br />Six species of rodents and one species of shrew were captured during the survey. <br />Other Mammals <br />Other mammals observed during the survey were porcupine, yellow-bellied marmot, coyote, red <br />squirrel, and bat. Species identified by sign but not observed were badger, beaver, and skunk. <br />Four species of high federal and state interest were observed on or near the proposed Yoast Mine <br />permit area. Those species are: <br />Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Colorado DOW endangered species) <br />Greater sandhill crane (Colorado DOW endangered species) <br />Bald eagle (Federal and Colorado endangered species) <br />Northern goshawk (Federal candidate for endangered species listing). <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The coal will be mined by surface mining methods, beginning in the northern section of the permit <br />boundary, then progressing south in subsequent permit terms. The majority of the coal will be mined <br />from the Wadge seam, the exception being the mining area located in the southwest part of Section <br />20 and the northeast part of Section 29, where Wolf Creek Coal may be mined. The initial boxcut <br />will he located in the northeast area of Section 17, and progress upgradient to the southeast. Mining <br />in the next permit term will continue in the neck azea, moving southwazd through the eastern portion <br />of Section 17. Mining will be completed in Sections 19 and 20. <br />The Wadge coal seam is overlain by 50 to 60 feet of sandstones, with interbedded shales and <br />siltstones. The thickness of the Wadge coal to be mined is 9 to 13 feet. The Wolf Creek coal seam <br />is overlain by 150 to 215 feet of sandstones, shales, siltstones, and thin coals. The Wolf Creek seam, <br />in the area to be mined, ranges from l2 to 18 feet in thickness. <br />Production rates at the mine for the first permit term will average 816,500 tons per year. The mine <br />is expected to operate until 2004, producing a total of 8,159,400 tons of coal. <br />The mining process includes clearing of vegetation, topsoil removal, overburden blasting and <br />removal, and coal blasting and removal. Reclamation will be contemporaneous with mining, and <br />includes backfilling, grading, topsoil redistribution, and reestablishment of vegetation. <br />Y'oasi HL~rc i 5 March ti. ?001 <br />