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December 1, 203 <\ppencllx ~. t'aye A-11 <br />Criterion 15 <br />• Federal lands which the surface management agency and the state jointly agree are habitat for <br />resident species of fish, wildlife and plants of high interest to the state and which are essential for <br />maintaining these priority wildlife and plant species shall be considered unsuitable. Examples of <br />such lands which serve a critical function for the species involved include: (i) active dancing and <br />strutting grounds for sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and prairie chicken, (ii) winter ranges <br />crucial for deer, antelope, and elk, (iii) migration corridor for elk, and (iv) extremes of range for <br />plant species. <br />Exception. A lease may be issued if, after consultation with the state, the surtace <br />management agency determines that all or certain stipulated methods of coal mining will not <br />have a significant long-term impact on the species being protected. <br />Analvsis <br />According to CDOW's current mapping of seasonal ranges far mule deer and elk, none of the <br />lands in the review area are considered to be crucial winter range for either species. (Crucial <br />winter range is a combination of those areas mapped 6y CDOW as winter concentration area or <br />severe winter range.) Current CDOW mapping of winter ranges indicates that the entire review <br />area is winter range for elk. CDOW mapping data does not classify the surtace as winter range <br />for mule deer. Surface-disturbing activities in this area caused by underground coal mining would <br />impact wintering elk. The review area is suitable for coal leasing only with inclusion of the <br />following special protective stipulations on those areas that maybe designated as crucial winter <br />range during the life of the project: <br />1. Coal related facilities and surface disturbances except subsidence will be authorized in the <br />review area only if no practical alternatives exist. <br />2. The BLM and USFS will coordinate with the CDOW to determine the type and extent of <br />allowable variances. <br />3. Coal exploration, facility construction, and major scheduled maintenance will not be <br />authorized within crucial winter ranges from December 1 through April 30. <br />4. All unavoidable surface disturbances within the crucial winter ranges during these times will <br />require approval of the BLM and USFS's Authorized Officer. <br />No other federal lands within the review area, or off-site that would be effected by the proposed <br />action are considered critical or essential habitat for resident species of fish, wildlife or plants of <br />high interest to the State of Colorado. <br />Criterion 16 <br />Federal lands in riverine, coastal, and special floodplains (100-year recurrence interval) on which <br />the surface management agency determines that mining could not be undertaken without <br />substantial threat of loss of life or property shall be considered unsuitable for all or certain <br />stipulated methods of coal mining. <br />Analvsis <br /> <br />The application lands are not within a riverine, coastal or special floodplain. <br />Environmental r~ssessn~ent <br />~,=best Flatiron ~Bfl liact <br />Gunnisssn County, ilalc=rada <br />