2010-04-09_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2009087

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(Jones & Stokes, Yoast Mine 2009 Wildlife Monitoring, prepared for Seneca Coal Company). Additional nest areas are documented over two miles north, along the Yampa River. Area fields and improved cropland pasture are used for loafing and/or foraging. Other BLM sensitive species or state species of concern with the potential to occur in the project area are the northern goshawk, mountain plover, black tern, long-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. Threatened or Endangered Species: The western yellow-billed cuckoo is a candidate for listing by USFWS under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Habitat for this bird occurs along the Yampa River corridor and its presence is possible 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. Foraging bald eagles are commonly observed in the area in winter, when they are most numerous in the region. Habitat for the Bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback 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 downstream in Moffat County. As part of the required consultation process, Sage Creek has discussed the exploration program with CDOW biologists and resource managers. Appendix C presents the CDOW wildlife consultation prepared for this project. It is not anticipated that the proposed exploration activities will negatively impact existing wildlife species or populations. Given this information, Sage Creek submits that the exploration and reclamation activities described in this application will not jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or endangered species listed pursuant to Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) or the Nongame, Endangered or Threatened Species Conservation Act (Section 33-8-101 et seq. C.R.S. 1973), or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat for those species. Soils: Soils within the project area are formed primarily from weathered fine-grained sandstone, siltsone and shale. The dominant soils are Argiustolls, Haplocryolls, and Palecryolls associations; and are moderately-deep to deep, well-drained, and have loam to find-sandy-loam surface textures (Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. Custom Soil Resources Report for Routt Area, Colorado, Parts of Rio Blanco and Routt Counties. http://websoilsurvey.nres.usda.gov/accessed [04/07/081). The only potential for erosion problems would be associated with the drill-pads, however given the very limited size of the pads, and the proposed drainage control measures, this potential is not significant. Upon completion of drilling activities the pads will be reclaimed and revegetated. 2010 RC Admin Permit 3 2124110