2008-01-14_PERMIT FILE - X200821712 (6)

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~~ IRON POINT 2001 COAL EXPLORATION LICENSE/PLAN WH.DLIFE HABITAT EVALUATIONS AND INVENTORY FORT&E SPECIES, SPECIES OF HIGH FEDERAL AND/OR STATE INTEREST AND SENSITIVE SPECIES INTRODUCTION This is a continuation of work that was initiated in 2000. This information was gathered during three survey periods from mid-May through early June. Under the final Iron Point Exploration License, Iron Point Coal Lease Tract and Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract EIS and record of Decision (ROD) the licensee is required to submit habitat and wildlife information prior to construction of any new drill pad or road. Information requirements and methodologies were established during consultations with Federal and State agency biologists by Rick Sherman and Mdse Wazd in 2000. This included assessment of habitat at each proposed dn71 site and along each road corridor. Wildlife surveys were conducted for a radius of 400 feet around each site and 400 feet either side of proposed road corridors. Emphasis was placed on T&E and species of high federal or state interest and sensitive species. In addition to these surveys all suitable raptor nesting habitat within a 1/2 m0e radius of each drill site or road corridor was checked for both active and inactive nests. Each site and access road was surveyed for wildlife activity, especially T&E and sensitive species on three different occasions. Generally, each site was surveyed at approximately 10 day intervals between mid-May and eazly June. This is considered to be the peak of nesting activity for most bird species. It is also the peak of parturition activity for many mammalian species. Most habitat surveyed is similar to that which was found during surveys conducted in 2000 by Sherman and Ward. In many cases descriptions of habitat in their report dated May 17, 2000 are the same as what was observed during surveys in the spring of 2001. A total of 10 sites and associated roads were surveyed. Two of these sites IP 99-19 & 20 were surveyed as a continuation of studies conducted last year. A sununary of findings for each drill site and road comdor follows. A record was kept of all birds observed during the site surveys. No attempt was made to quantify numbers observed at each site for comparison purposes. Within similar habitat types the same species were always observed with some, such as Green-tailed towhees, warblers and flycatchers being very common. A total of 67 different bird species were observed during the surveys and during travel to and from sites. On numerous occasions flycatchers were observed, but due to brevity of observation, distance, etc. many were not identified as to species. All species identified are included in Appendix A.