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Third Park Federal Coal Exploration License Environmental Assessment VEGETATION (including a finding on Standard 3) Affected Environment: The vegetation types within the proposed Project Area were characterized using data from the Colorado Vegetation Classification Project (CDOW 2003). Based on areal extent, grass/forb rangeland and sagebrush/grass are [he dominant vegetation communities in the Project Area. Table 5 presents the vegetation communities identified in the Project Area, an acreage estimate for each, and estimates of the length of access routes and number of drill holes within each community. TABLE 5 -VEGETATION COMMUNITIES IN THIRD PARK Community Total Acres Total Access Route Len th Feet Total Number of Drill Holes A icultural Land 4 8 0 Grass/Forb Ran eland 2,595 7,309 69 Pin on-Juni er 536 358 10 PJ-Sa ebrush Mix 177 83 1 Ri avian 8 0 0 Sa ebrush Communi[ 270 823 3 Sa ebrush/Grass Mix 1,146 1,892 15 PJ-Mountain Shrub Mix 2 0 0 Ponderosa Pine/Gambel Oak Mix <l 0 0 Total 4,738 10,473 98 Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: Use of the overland access routes and drilling activities would cause localized, short-term disturbance to vegetation. Plants would be disturbed or crushed, but would not be removed during use of the routes and during drilling. The drill hole locations and access routes would be reseeded with native vegetation using BLM-approved seed mixes. The effects to vegetation from drilling would be law and short-term. No long-term losses of vegetation are expected because of the absence of surface-scarring activities including pad construction and overland access route blading. Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no project-related effects to vegetation. Land Health Standard 3 (partial, see Wildlife, Aquatic and Wildlife, Terrestrial): Vegetation in the Project Area currently meets the standard and would continue to meet the standard after implementation of the Proposed Action. WILDLIFE, AQUATIC (includes a finding on Standard 3) Affected Environment: Three deeply incised perennial streams -Tabeguache Creek along the northern border; the San Miguel River extending along the western border; and Coal Draw, which drains the southern portion of Third Park -occur in or near the Project Area. Both Tabeguache Creek and Coal Draw are tributary to the San Miguel River and are outside of the Project Area. No suitable aquatic wildlife habitats are located within in the Project Area boundary at drill hole locations. Several permanent water bodies, including small ponds, occur in the project area. Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: No effects to local perennial streams or aquatic wildlife are expected as a result of the proposed Project. Drilling- and access-related activities would be designed to avoid directly disturbing small ponds and other permanent aquatic habitats in the Project Area. Western Fuels CEL Environmenlpt Assessment 23