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SOILS Soils vary from silty and sandy foams mainly derived from the Wasatch Formation, to organic humus covering clay soils observed in the Aspen groves. A sandstone and conglomerate bedrock is present throughout most of the mesas and ridges as observed from the rock outcroppings. Experience at the other gob vent /degas borehole site, indicates that the size of drill pads will be approximately 120' x 180'. Topsoil salvaged at the sites for reclamation purposes indicates that revegetation should not be a problem in this area. The revegetation of the previous drill pad sites has been very successful and in adjacent exploration areas. WILDLIFE The project area is an important range for deer, elk, and bear. Other animals in the project area include coyote, rabbit, porcupine, beaver, squirrel, mice and other rodents. The proposed gob vent de-gas borehole project will be managed to avoid conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big game hunting season. Operations will be located such as to not interfere with raptor nesting sites, including Golden and Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES Previous Threatened and Endangered (T&E) clearance surveys have not identified threatened or endangered plant or animal species on West Flat Iron, Dry Fork, or within adjacent coal exploration areas of Ravens Gulch or Sylvester Gulch. Attached to this drilling plan are two reports titled, "Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Drill Site Clearance Survey for Sites 96-27-1, SOM-21, SOM-50 (stet. SOM-53), SOM-123, SOM126, RAV-2, RAV-8, RAV-8 Alt. A, RAV-8 Alt. B, RAV-10, BBB, High Pressure Hose and Access Roads, July 2001" and "Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Drill Site Clearance Survey for Sites 15-O1, 15-02, IS-04, 16-01, and 16-04, August 2001". The report completed for the gob vent degas borehole drilling program is attached and the report states that none of the TES species that could potentially occur within the Gunnison National Forest would be adversely impacted by the proposed project. Further, the report covers a broad area in order to field-fit borehole pads 15-3.5 and 15-OS and realignment of the access to the drill pads. The gob vent / de-gas borehole pads are within the area covered by the Final West- Central Colorado Coal Environmental Statement prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, BLM, 1979. The portion applicable to this section is covered on pages 573 through 582. The EiS concluded that no threatened or endangered plants (pp.573-577), or aquatic species (pp. 580-582) exist in the area. The only endangered wildlife species is the bald eagle, which does inhabit the North Fork Gunnison Valley during the winter months.