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SENT, BY: GREYSTONE ENVIRONMENTAL; 303 689 0194; AUG•30-01 10:58; PAGE 4 <br />REPORT <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC) operates the West Elk Minc under a permit (No. C-80-007) <br />issued by the Colorado Division of Mineral and Geology (DMG). The location of the mine is <br />approximately two miles cast of Somerset, Colorado off of Colorado Stale Highway 133. <br />Under the MCC's ongoing exploratory drilling program, wells are drilled within the mine permit <br />boundary in order to assess new coal resources within the mine azca. In compliance with the <br />Endangered Species Act of 1972 as amended, a cleazance survey for all threatened and <br />endangered wildlife and plant species is required before drilling can begin. In addition, sensitive <br />species designated by Ute U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are also addressed in this report. The <br />threatened, endangered, and sensitive (TES) species of concern and their habitats, as provided by <br />the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and USFS, are listed in Table 1. <br />A survey is also required to identify any fragile or particulazly sensitive azcas of concern. These <br />areas might include wetlands, riparian areas, and unusual topographic fearures. <br />The purpose of this ccport is to discuss habitat and potential occurrence of each threatened, <br />endangered and sensitive species of concern at each drill pad, and to present the results of the <br />August 28, 2001 fitld survey. <br />SITE LOCATION <br />West Elk Mine is located in Gunnison County approximately two miles east of Somerset, <br />Colorado. Proposed drill sites 14-OG, 15-05, 15-06, 15-07, 15-08, and IS-09 are located in <br />Township 13 south, Range 90 west, Sections 25 and 27 (Figure l). <br />Iuw,l ]-0].1 ]-0ri, l]•07, I ]•O8, I S •09.doc 1 <br />