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INTRODUCTION <br />In 2007 Mountain Coal'Company determined that as part of the planning process it would be <br />effective to conduct baseline habitat and wildlife surveys prior to the initiation of surface <br />disturbance activities. These surveys would cover the entire area that would be affected for the <br />10-year mine life. The purpose of those surveys was to delineate vegetation/habitat types and <br />conduct surveys for wildlife and plants listed as Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species <br />(TESS) and Management Indicator Species (MIS), nesting raptors and other species within those <br />types. By doing so large expanses of certain vegetation types or areas could be ruled out as areas <br />that would be used by listed species or in which listed species may be found. This would help <br />Mountain Coal and governmental agencies in long range planning for drilling activities in the <br />area. <br />In July 2007 a report titled "Mountain Coal Company, E-Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project, <br />Habitat and Wildlife Baseline Studies" was prepared by Monarch & Associates and Michael <br />Ward Outdoors. Detailed information on vegetation/habitat types and life histories of wildlife <br />species were presented in that report. <br />This report is an addendum to the July 2007 Habitat and Wildlife Baseline Studies report. <br />Detailed information on vegetation/habitat types and life histories of wildlife species presented in <br />that report are not presented in this report. Rather, only information on observations made <br />during the 2008 surveys are presented in this report. <br />This report presents findings from wildlife surveys conducted during the spring and early <br />summer of 2008 for the E-Seam Panels 1 & 2 Methane Drainage Wells Project. This includes <br />Gob Vent Boreholes and access roads to these sites. <br />PROJECT AREA <br />E-Seam panels 1 & 2 drill sites and associated roads project area are shown on Figure 1. In the <br />project area there are already a number of roads and drill sites that have been constructed in <br />recent years. Some of these roads and sites were surveyed for habitat condition, wildlife and <br />plants in previous years. Information from those studies is included in other reports submitted to <br />Mountain Coal Company since 2002. <br />METHODS <br />Emphasis was placed on compiling data on TESS, MIS and nesting raptors that are known to or <br />may occur in the area. Data was compiled on locations and habitat type where any of these <br />species were observed. <br />Transects through all suitable raptor nesting habitat were conducted. Areas such as oakbrush <br />dominated expanses were not surveyed, as raptors in this area are not known to nest in this <br />habitat type. All mature aspen, spruce-fir and cottonwoods were checked for current nesting or <br />evidence of past nesting. GPS fixes for all nest sites, both active and inactive were recorded and <br />habitat type where located were recorded. Nest locations are shown on Figure 1. Surveys were