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• Raptor Nest Survey <br />Bald and Golden Eagle Survey <br />Big Game Winter Range Assessment <br />Ozbow Mining, Inc.,,Sanborn Creek Mine <br />Exploration Holes OM-Ol-Ol, 02, 04, 09,10,11 <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Savage and Savage undertook a raptor nest survey, bald and golden eagle survey, and <br />evaluation of big game winter range on behalf of Oxbow Mining, Inc, at the request of <br />the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) and the U.S. Bureau of Land <br />Management (BLM). Both agencies requested threatened and endangered species <br />assessments for exploration drill holes to be developed this yeaz. The wells and <br />associated disturbances are located within Section 31, T12S,1t90W, Sections 35 and 36, <br />T12S, 1291 W, Sections 5, 6, and 7, T13S, R90W, and Sections 1 and 12, T13S, R91 W <br />within Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado. All drill hole locations are northeast of <br />the mining facilities immediately north of Colorado Highway 133 and the Town of <br />Somerset, Colorado. <br />The six exploration drill holes to be developed this season are located north and west of <br />• the existing mine facilities. Ali but one (OM-O1-09) are located along existing unpaved <br />roads. Development of drill hole OM-Ol-09 will entail construction of approximately <br />one mile of roadway between two existing roads. The disturbance associated with the <br />exploration drill hole will include removing topsoil, leveling the pad for the drill rig and <br />ancillary equipment, and constructing a pit for drilling water containment. The area of <br />disturbance for each of the six exploration drill hole sites is approximately 84' wide and <br />260' long (approximately 0.5 acres). <br />METHODS <br />To initially identify potential raptor and eagle locations, as well as big game winter range, <br />a background search of the North Fork Coal Final Environmental Impact Statement <br />(USDA, USDI, 2000), and a review of the Colorado State University Natural Diversity <br />Information Source database were undertaken. These searches identified the location of <br />potential habitat types and occurrence of raptors, eagles, and big game within the <br />exploration disturbance area. <br />Following the background seazches, a vehiculaz and pedestrian survey of the exploration <br />drill hole locations was conducted May 22-24, 2001 by Savage and Savage staff <br />biologists. The area investigated included a circulaz buffer zone with a 1000.foot radius <br />around the designated exploration drill hole location. Field observations were recorded <br />• <br />-1- <br />