2009-02-23_PERMIT FILE - X200921208 (3)

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Wildlife The exploration area is an important range for deer, elk, and bear. Other animals in the exploration area include coyote, rabbit, porcupine, beaver, squirrel, mice and other rodents. The proposed exploration program will be scheduled to avoid conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big game hunting season. Operations will be located such as to not interfere with raptor nesting sites, including golden and bald eagle, and Peregrine falcon. Threatened or Endangered pecies Threatened and Endangered (T & E) clearance surveys on the Dry Fork sites were conducted for the E Seam Methane Drainage Well Project EIS and are included as Attachment 4. The surveys have not identified threatened or endangered plant or animal species within adjacent exploration areas. The Dry Fork Exploration Area is within the area covered by the Final West-Central Colorado Coal Environmental Statement prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, BLM, 1979. The portion applicable to this section is covered on pages 573 through 582. The EIS concluded that no threatened or endangered plants (pp.573-577), or aquatic species (pp. 580-582) exist in the area. The only endangered wildlife species is the bald eagle, which does inhabit the North Fork Gunnison Valley during the winter months. The proposed exploration will occur in the late spring, summer, and early fall months and avoid riparian habitats to the extent possible. Operations will be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting sites, and scheduled to minimize conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big game hunting seasons. Land Use The prevailing land use of the acreage contained in this application is wildlife habitat. Surface topography is rugged. Limited camping, hunting, and cattle grazing occur in the proposed exploration area. There are no highways or critical structures in this area. The Dry Fork Road, as recognized and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, lies with the proposed exploration area. Remnant roads, originally constructed for exploration drilling access, occur in the area. User created ATV trails and jeep trails also exist. Game trails exist and it is a known elk winter range. Coal mining has a long history in the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has an underground longwall operation north of the proposed exploration area which has been a viable mine since 1981. Currently there are three other mines in the North Fork Valley, which include the Elk Creek Mine, operated by Oxbow Carbon and Minerals, and the Bowie No. 2 Mine operated by Horizon Natural Resources. Other mines that have existed in the valley include Bear Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Hawks Nest Mine, Orchard Valley Mine, Sanborn Creek Mine, the Somerset Mine, and the Edwards Mine. 11 5