2009-05-12_PERMIT FILE - C1980005

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Yaast Mine ?4a7 wildlil~e Nianitaring, prepared for Seneca Caal Campany?. Additional nest areas are f? documented ever two miles north, along the Yampa Diver. Area fields and improved cropland pasture ??-?'' are used far loafing andlvr foxaging, Other BLM sensitive species or state species of concern with the potential to occur in the project area are the northern goshawk, mountain planer, black tern, Ian billed curlew and white-faced Ibis, Their occurrence in the immediate project area would be as a rare seasonal visitor or migrant passing through the area. Threat?r?e? or Endangered species: The western yellow-billed cuckoo is a candidate for listing by USF'? under the Endangered species Act ?ESA?. Habitat far this bird occurs along the Yampa River corridor and its presence is passible in the vicinity as a rare seasonal visitor or migrant passing through the area. As noted above, the bald eagle is listed as state threatened. p`oraging bald eagles are commonly observed in the area in winter, when they are most numerous in the region. Habitat for the Bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, hui?npback chub and ra?arback sucker does not occur within the project area. Critical habitat for these fishes which are federally listed endangered species under the ESA exists in the Yampa River dor?rnstream in Ma#?at County. As park of the required consultation process, gage Creek Holdings has discussed the exploration program with Cl??' biologists and resource managers. Appendix presents the CD?w wildlife consultation prepared for this project. ?t is anticipated that the proposed exploration a?ctrvities will not negatively impact existing wildlife species ar populations. Land uses: Prevailing land uses within the Sage Creek project area include drylarid farming primarily ?r,? wheats, livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Cultivated and long-term fallow croplands are ?? ?- inters rsed with unim roved astu?relCRP lands. Castle and shee in are seasonal. A roan of l p p p i g l? the area State Trust Lands managed by I??w? is open to seasonal wildlife related recreation including hunting big game and game birds} and wildlife viewing activities. Several Rautt County roads traverse the area. Routt County Road ?? ?"Twentymile Road"} is a major arterial road linking the western and southern parts of Routt County. County reads ?7A, 5 I C and ? l I] are minor gravel?cavered or unimproved dirt access roads. Ranch-based features in the area include fences, reservoirs and stock tanks. There are throe occupied residences in the nearby vlclnlt?r; however, none of the exploration sites are within ?.5 miles of any occupied residence. There i a long history of coal mining in the immediate vicinity. The Seneca II Kline and Yoast Kline are closed surface mines adjacent and immediately to tl?e east and southwest, respectively, ofthe project area. The l?aidel Creek Mine is a large ongoing underground coal mine irnrriediately to the southeast ofthe project area. Cultural or Archaeola seal Resources: MetcalfArchaeolagical Consultants, inc. ?MAC?, on behalf of Colorado Caal Resources the precursor to Sage Creek Holdings, LLC}, has conducted culturaUarchaeolagical resource surveys of the Sage Creak project area. Tl?e culturallarchealagical resource surveys were completed during the Za?B fall months. The culturaUarcheological resource survey report is provided is Appendix D. No archaeological sites or isolated finds were indentifed in this survey. previous surveys have identified several isolated finds and historiclprehistaric sites in the general region; however, the isolated finds and histariclprehistoric sites are all greater than O.Z miles from any proposed exploration site. MAC findings were of "na affect on historic properties" and recommends na additional cultural resources work for these sites. ,? C'rcek Project - 209 N(?! fJ?108J?9