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Wildlife: The sagebrush, pastureland and mixed brush vegetation types in this area support a variety of <br />wildlife species. Information on wildlife in the vicinity of the Sage Creek area was obtained from <br />federal and state agencies, as well as, site-specific studies for adjacent coal properties. BLM and <br />CDOW, in partnership with CNHP, keep information on area wildlife including big game and game <br />birds and other species of concern. This includes federally- and state-listed threatened and endangered <br />(T&E) species, and other species considered to be rare or of special interest. Seneca Coal Company <br />(SCC) conducts annual site-specific surveys of the Sage Creek area as part of its mine permit <br />reclamation monitoring requirements for both the Seneca H and Yoast mines. <br />Big Game: ame: The project area provides good year-round habitat for deer, elk and pronghorn. The CDOW <br />and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have identified winter range and critical winter range <br />within the project and adjacent areas (Natural Diversity Information Source; http://www. <br />ndis.nrel.colostate.edu; accessed 4/7/08). Aerial surveys conducted in 2007 by SCC mapped elk herds <br />wintering along the eastern edge of the project area. Map 2, Sage Creek Project Area Wildlife Habitat, <br />shows wildlife habitats of importance identified by state and federal wildlife agencies, as well as results <br />of the 2007 SCC wildlife survey. <br />Raptors: The project area contains potential habitat for raptors, including known nesting sites in the <br />sandstone cliffs along the eastern and southern boundary. CDOW data includes historic nest sites of <br />golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and other Buteo species. Map 2 shows raptor habitats identified by <br />SCC in their annual wildlife surveys. Adjacent areas contain historic nest locations for great horned <br />owl and prairie falcon. Bald eagles are listed as a state threatened species. CDOW data shows a <br />historic bald eagle nest location approximately 2 miles north of the project area, as well as, winter <br />range along the Yampa River corridor. The ferruginous hawk and peregrine falcon are state listed <br />species of concerns, as well as on the BLM's sensitive species list. Their occurrence in the area is <br />likely, however, there are no known nest locations in or near the Sage Creek area (CDOW data shows <br />the nesting distribution for the ferruginous hawk further to the west in Moffat County). <br />Game Birds: Greater sage grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (both state and BLM species of <br />concern) are known to inhabit and/or utilize the area. Map 3, Grouse Leks in the Sage Creek Project <br />Area, shows grouse habitat in the project area. CDOW mapping, as well as SCC site-specific surveys <br />has identified 10 sage grouse (2 active) and 16 sharp-tailed grouse leks (13 active) within or <br />immediately adjacent to the proposed Sage Creek project boundary. Additional leks likely exist in the <br />general vicinity. <br />CDOW, in partnership with federal land management agencies, recently implemented a conservation <br />plan for the greater-sage grouse (Colorado Greater-sage-grouse Conservation Plan, CDOW, 2008). <br />The plan recommends a 0.6 mile breeding season buffer for Greater sage-grouse and a 0.4 mile <br />breeding season buffer for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Exploration site ccu046 is within 0.6 miles <br />of an active sage-grouse lek. Exploration sites ccu038, 039, 043, 044 and 048 are within 0.4 miles of <br />an active sharp-tailed grouse lek. CDOW does not anticipate any long-term negative impacts to grouse <br />habitat as a result of the exploration activities. To minimize short-term impacts, CDOW has requested <br />that the 2009 exploration activities at these six sites occur outside the nesting and breeding season <br />(May 1 to July 1). In addition, Sage Creek Holdings will conduct a field reconnaissance prior to <br />beginning exploration activities to ensure that the drill pad is not directly on top of an active lek. If <br />necessary, a drill pad encroaching on a lek site will be moved to a suitable location further from the <br />active lek site. <br />BLM and State Species of Concern: Greater sandhill cranes are a state species of concern (CNHP, <br />2008). CDOW has identified a historic sandhill crane nesting area along Sage Creek northeast of the <br />S.p C-kftJ t-2009NOl <br />0//08109