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May 16, 2009 <br />• Nesting Raptor and other Wildlife Survey for the 2009 Mountain Coal Company Dry Fork <br />Exploration Program <br />Liane and Dennis: <br />• I completed the surveys for the exploration area on May 12 though 15, 2009. It was my <br />understanding that emphasis was to be placed upon locating Goshawk nests if any exist in the <br />area. I also collected data on other raptor nesting activity and USFS listed species that were <br />observed. <br />Access to three sites east of Deep Creek will be by helicopter. This will include sites J, L and M. <br />These sites are all small and will be cleared by hand. Site K will be accessed by an existing road <br />that will be reconstructed. This site will be in the middle of the reconstructed road. All sites west <br />of Deep Creek will be accessed by roads that will be constructed from the Dry Fork Road. Sites <br />• A, B and D will be accessed by existing roads that will be upgraded. <br />A more complete discussion of my observations will be included in my final report for habitat <br />and wildlife surveys in the E-Seam area this spring. <br />Methods <br />Since 2002, I have been collecting raptor nesting data in and around the area where the proposed <br />drilling activities. In 2007 Mike Ward and I did an intensive block survey of the E-Seam area to <br />• check for raptor nests. Nests found during those surveys in this project area were checked as part <br />of this effort. <br />I conducted the nesting raptor surveys by walking though all suitable nesting habitat within 1/4 <br />• mile of any sites or proposed access roads. For goshawks, I also played recordings randomly in <br />areas where suitable nesting habitat exists. GPS locations for all raptor nests were recorded. <br />1 also made opportunistic observations of USFS listed species that were in the area surveyed. <br />• Findings <br />No goshawk nests were found during these surveys. Much of the area further up drainage along <br />Deep Creek was surveyed over a period of several years. During those years and during winter <br />• surveys I conducted the last two winters, single goshawks have been observed. However, no <br />nests have been found nor birds observed that acted like they were defending a nesting territory <br />during those surveys. <br />Nests of other raptors were found during the surveys. There were four inactive and one active <br />• nest located. These nest sites, as well as the pad and road sites are shown on the map included <br />with this report. Of the four inactive nests all were found during previous surveys. Of those only <br />25