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Raptor Survey Report for the Lorencito Coal Company Property <br />Weston, Las Animas County, Colorado <br />Purpose and Introduction <br />The purpose of the raptor survey was to document the occurrence of raptors (i.e., hawks, owls, <br />eagles, falcons, and vultures) and their nests within the 3,000-acre permit area of the property of <br />the Lorencito Coal Company. The raptor survey is to be performed annually in the spring season <br />as specified in the permit for the coal mining operations. <br />The property is located in the southwetem portion of Las Animas County that is along the <br />border with New Mexico in southeastern Colorado. The property abuts and is south of State <br />Highway 12 and the Purgatoire River, about three miles west of Segundo. The property <br />encompasses part of Lorencito Canyon and Jeff Canyon, is very rugged terrain, and elevations <br />range from 6 600 t o ? 500 f eet. T he p ennit a rea was comprised almost entirely of the pinyon <br />pine-Gambel oak vegetation community, with some patches of grasslands and scattered areas of <br />bare, rocky soil. <br />Various maps aze contained in a previous report (Lorencito Canyon Mine -Permit C-96-084, <br />04/21/97). Detailed information about vegetation community types and locations is contained in <br />the same report (Section 2.04.10, Vegetation Information). Detailed information about species <br />of raptors that may potentially occur, as well as the raptor survey results that occurred prior to <br />mining activities, is contained in the same report in Section 2.04.55, Raptors. <br />Methods <br />A field survey for raptors and their nests was conducted by one Greystone Environmental senior <br />ecologist on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 during the hours of 0800 and 1300 Mountain Daylight <br />Time. The weather at the beginning of the survey was clear skies, slight breeze, and <br />temperatures in the low- to mid-80 degree F range. The weather at the end of the survey was <br />partly cloudy skies, strong winds, and temperatures in the mid-90 degree F range. The field <br />survey was conducted primarily by driving all available dirt roads throughout the permit azea at <br />about 15 miles per hour. The 3,000-acre permit area was divided into quadrants and <br />approximately equal time was spent in each quadrant. Roads extended into all quadrants neazly <br />to the boundaries of the permit area and were roughly equally distributed among the quadrants. <br />Well pads were used to park the car and observe outside of the car with and without binoculars <br />for 5 to 15 minutes. The well pads tended to be located on ridges that overlooked extensive <br />areas and were cleared enough to afford a 360 degree view. <br />The mode of travel, as well as number of observers and time of year, strongly influence the <br />results of a raptor survey (Fuller and Mosher 1987). Road surveys aze a very common technique <br />for locating raptors, and can be more effective than walking surveys in rough terrain or dense <br />vegetation (Fuller and Mosher 1987). <br />Lorencito Coal raptor survey rpt.doc <br />08/26/02 <br />