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•~ Drill Sites IP99-19&2 <br />• ; ~ 0 Wildlife Surveys <br />Threatened & Endangered or Species of Concern <br />During surveys on May 14, 25 and June 4 no Threatened, Endangered, Species of Concern or <br />migratory bird species of high federal and/or state interest listed in the EIS were observed within <br />these areas. Preferred habitat for all species listed in the EIS is lacking at both sites. The one <br />exception would be the loggerhead shrdce which may occur in this area on raze occasions. <br />Raptors <br />No active or inactive raptor nests were found within approximately 1/2 mile of either of the sites. <br />Very little habitat suitable for nesting raptors was found near either site. There were aspen <br />stands, but these were dominated by older trees and cover suitable for accipiters which would be <br />the species most ldcely to nest in these areas was lacking. <br />Golden eagles were observed soaring in the area and accipiters were sighted briefly on several <br />occasions. The accipiters were at a distance and the brevity of the sightings did not allow for <br />positive identification. On all occasions it was determined they were either sharp-shinned or <br />Cooper's hawks. None were big enough to have been Goshawks. <br />At Site 19 there are two Aspen stands within a few hundred yards of the site. Both of these <br />stands are deteriorating, and dominated by old growth trees 60-70+ feet ta1L The spacing, lack of <br />a good canopy cover and understory makes these areas low quality for accipiter nest sites. These <br />stands were surveyed during the migratory bird surveys and no nests were located. - <br />At Site 20 there was a large aspen stand a few hundred feet west of the site which potentially <br />provides some suitable nesting habitat for accipiters. Surveys for raptor nests in the stand were <br />conducted from the lower edge up-slope to approximately 1/2 mile from Site 20. Conditions <br />within portions of the stand near the drill pad aze not optimum for accipiters. There were portions <br />of the stand that appeazed to provide conditions suitable for nesting accipiters, but azeas were <br />near the outer limits of the survey area. It should also be noted that the tall oaks near the drill pad <br />will screen the pad from the Aspen stand and thus help in;,,,i~.e the possible deterring of <br />accipiters hunting for prey in that azea. <br />There aze potential nest sites available in cliffs along neazby drainages, but none of these were <br />within 1/2 mile of either site. <br /> <br />