Laserfiche WebLink
• Population". As such, BFF in the area do not receive the same level of protection as animals of <br />"endangered" status. Management of the BFF and activities upon the lands that they occupy are <br />guided by "A Cooperative Plan for Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction and Management, Wolf <br />Creek and Coyote Basin Management Areas, Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties, Colorado". The Wolf <br />Creek management area is closest to the Deserado Mine. It is located to the northeast of Coal <br />Ridge approximately three miles to the closest part of the mine permit area. The agencies charged <br />with ferret recovery continue to encourage BME to conduct operations in a manner that reduces the <br />risk of adversely affecting reintroduced ferrets. Regulatory authorities would impose protective <br />measures (e,g., minimum necessary timing limitations andlor facility relocations) only when site- <br />specific monitoring indicates that a 'knowing' or 'negligent' take (as defined by the Endangered <br />Species Act) of a ferret inhabiting the mine area is imminent. Given the limited extent and density of <br />prairie dogs in the mine permit area, it is unlikely that the Mine's activities will impact individual <br />ferrets or the recovery program. <br />The prairie dog populations in the vicinity of the coal conveyor, mine portal, and washing facility are <br />not of consequence due to inhospitable habitat. Populations in the disposal and alternate sites and <br />along portions of the haul road, however, are in favorable habitat and are sufficiently dense, up to <br />290 individuals per hectare, to support predators on a sustained basis. Although an additional two <br />man-weeks, including observations with a night vision device, were spent in search of ferrets in <br />these favorable populations, none were seen nor evidenced. This does not preclude the possibility <br />• that they might exist, but it is unlikely. The fact that none were seen nor evidenced might be related <br />to their inability to compete with the abundant golden eagle and other canid and fetid predators. <br />Prairie dog remains were abundant in eagle and coyote pellets. <br />Concern for prairie dog populations is legitimate. Habitat destruction was minimized by proper <br />reclamation procedures. Active dumping of waste is kept to a minimum practicable acreage and will <br />be followed by revegetation to return the area to use by animal species. <br />Although the riparian habitat is the most significant for prime avian species because it supports the <br />greatest diversity, it is least likely to be disturbed due to the water withdrawal method and there is <br />very little of it within the proposed area of impact. Additionally, there are no prime avian species <br />sufficiently dependent upon it that they will be harmed. Table II.C-15 of Section II.C gives a <br />breakdown of water intake from White River and use by various categories. <br />IV.M.3 Habitat Affinities The habitat affinities of four prime avian species are of concern: <br />ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, sage grouse and burrowing owls. Ferruginous hawks nest in low <br />juniper trees and on the ground in pinyon-juniper and low growing sagebrush or desert shrub areas <br />in the potential impact area. Although they are the largest group of raptors known as buteos they <br />are thought to be declining in numbers. This decline is in large part attributed to their intolerance of <br />human activity in and around nesting areas. Although the mining and disposal operations are not <br />• Permit Rev. 4 (11/2002) IV-45 <br />