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INTRODUCTION <br />Mountain Coal Company is planning on surface disturbance activities associated with <br />their E-Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project. This includes exploration drilling, gob <br />vent boreholes and access roads to these sites. In the past the process has been to conduct <br />surveys on an annual as needed basis. This has been time consuming and at times <br />probably not necessary. <br />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 <br />for the 10-year mine life. The area surveyed is shown on Figure 1. The purpose of these <br />surveys was to delineate vegetation/habitat types and conduct surveys for wildlife and <br />plants listed as Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species (TESS) and Management <br />Indicator Species (MIS), nesting raptors and other species within those types. By doing <br />so, large expanses of certain vegetation types or areas could be ruled out as areas that <br />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 <br />the area. <br />Since 2002 Monarch & Associates and Michael Ward Outdoors have conducted habitat <br />and wildlife surveys in portions of the project area. Surveys have been conducted for <br />Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species and nesting <br />raptors that are known to, or may potentially be found in the project area. For this project <br />baseline wildlife and habitat surveys were conducted in May, June and July 2007. In <br />addition to studies for this project area, habitat and wildlife studies have been conducted <br />in other areas of the North Fork Valley since 2001. This background data has been used <br />to better evaluate the importance of this area for wildlife when compared with other <br />similar habitat in the North Fork Valley. The tables included with this report show raptor <br />nest locations, federally listed Threatened or Endangered, USFS Sensitive Species <br />(TESS) and USFS Management Indicator Species (MIS) that may potentially be found in <br />the area affected by this project or are listed by the GMUG as occurring on forest lands. <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />During the habitat and wildlife surveys conducted in May, June and July of 2007 no <br />federally listed Threatened or Endangered Species were observed in the project area. <br />There is very limited suitable habitat for Canada lynx and boreal toad. There is no <br />suitable habitat for the Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly. There is no nesting or winter <br />roost habitat for bald eagles within the project area. Habitat is lacking for the two listed <br />plant species, Clay-loving buckwheat and Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus. Habitat is <br />lacking for the two listed candidate species, Gunnison sage grouse and yellow-billed <br />cuckoo.