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Williams Fork Mountains at elevations above 7,200 feet Gamble's oak (Quercus gambelii) <br />dominates the mountain shrub community and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) and <br />chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) are less abundant. Snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) is <br />the most prominent understory component with occasional big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), <br />rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) or bitterbrush (Purshia tridentate). Gamble's oak <br />becomes less dominate at lower elevations giving way to sagebrush, serviceberry, and <br />chokecherry and only dominates east facing slopes. At the lowest elevations, serviceberry and <br />chokecherry give way to a community dominated by sagebrush, rabbitbrush and grasses. <br />Specifically, PR-06 proposes to disturb an additional 312 acres within the existing 10,382.3 acre <br />permit area to recover coal from portions of Federal leases C-07519 and C-079641 affected by a <br />landslide by surface mining methods all or part of; <br />Township 5 North, Range 90 West 6`h P.M. <br />Sections 5 and 6 portions thereof; <br />Township 6 North, Range 90 West 6`h P.M. <br />Sections 31 and 32 portions thereof. <br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are also shown on USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map of <br />Castor Gulch. <br />Black-footed Ferret <br />The black-footed ferret, (Mustela nigripes), is a fifteen to eighteen inch long, weasel-like with <br />buff coloration, black feet, tail tip, and eye mask, with a blunt, light colored nose. The species <br />occupies grassland plains in close association with prairie dog colonies at elevations of less than <br />10,500 feet above mean sea level. The Black-footed ferret preys on prairie dogs primarily and <br />uses their burrows for shelter and denning. <br />Wildlife surveys of the Trapper mine permit area found no prairie dog (Cynomys sp) colonies on <br />or adjacent to the permit area. Due to a lack of suitable habitat OSM has determined that the <br />PR-06 will "not affect" the continued existence of the black-footed ferret. <br />Canada lynx <br />The Canada lynx (Lynx Canadensis), is a medium-sized cat with long legs, well furred paws, <br />long tufts on the ears, and a short black tipped tail. Adult males average 22 pounds and thirty- <br />three inches in length head to tail. Adult females average nineteen pounds and measure thirty- <br />two inches in length. Suitable habitat includes primary habitat of coniferous forests of spruce <br />and fir or lodgepole pine, and secondary habitat of aspen or Douglas-fir mixed with the primary <br />habitat at elevations between 8,000 and 11,500 feet. Lynx also periodically traverse other <br />forested and non-forested habitats including lower elevation woodlands and shrublands.