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Upland Game Birds <br /> Sharp-tailed grouse, blue grouse, and sage grouse all occur within the permit boundary. Sharp-tailed <br /> grouse leks were observed in Sections 5 and 9. Blue grouse were observed in the permit area <br /> throughout spring and summer, with one brood observed. Sage grouse range, production, and brood <br /> areas overlap nearly 150 acres in Section 8 of the proposed permit area. There are roughly 80 acres <br /> of sage grouse range and production areas in Section 16, and the entire haul road corridor is in sage <br /> grouse range. There were no active sage grouse ieks observed within the proposed permit area. <br /> Raptors <br /> Three species of raptors were found nesting in the wildlife survey area in 1993. They were Cooper's <br /> hawk, red-tailed hawk, and great homed owl. Seven other raptor species were observed during the <br /> 1993 breeding season, but no active nests were found. The seven species were turkey vulture, <br /> northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, northern goshawk, Swainson's hawk, golden eagle, and <br /> American kestrel. Bald eagles and an osprey were sighted east of the proposed permit area. <br /> 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, 20 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 /> Yomt Mine 14 October 19, 1999 i <br />