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ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS REPORT <br />The proposed exploration activities will result in minimal impact to the environmental r son cof <br />of the area. The proposed activities include drilling, sampling, logging, and exploration holes. <br />Geologic Hazards: There are no known geologic hazards at any of the, proposed drill-pad sites. <br />The general topography of the area is relatively gentle north-northeast facing, moderately sloping, <br />side slope benches and ridges. There are steep south-southwest facing escarpments on the east <br />and south end of the project area. However, none of the exploration drilling will occur on or <br />adjacent to the steep escarpments. Drill pad site selection was partly based to take advantage of <br />flat terrain. <br />Hydrologic Hazards: There are no known hydrologic hazards at any of the proposed drill-pad <br />sites. No sites are located within a water course flood plain zone and all pads will be set back at <br />least 50-feet from any stream or dry wash. The exploration activities will involve drilling through <br />sandstone units, which may function as aquifers in the area (dependent on recharge, <br />transmissivity, and lateral continuity). Upon completion of the drilling activities, the holes will be <br />grouted from bottom to top to eliminate the potential for any cross-contamination concerns <br />associated with penetrating multiple sandstone units. <br />Vegetation: Previously completed vegetation investigations for the area (199011992 Vegetation <br />Baseline Report, ; Yoast Mine, ESCO Associates, 1993) did not identify any currently listed <br />threatened or endangered plant species as occurring within the project area. The only rare plant <br />species with federal status that potentially could occur in the project area is the Ute Lady's <br />Tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis). The only suitable habitat for this species mapped in Routt <br />County is in the vicinity of the Yampa River along the floodplain, which is several miles north <br />and west of the project area. Several plants regarded as rate by the Colorado Natural Heritage <br />Program (CNHP, http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu; accessed 4/10/08) have been located in the <br />Little Snake Resource Area, though mostly at lower elevations and further west of the Sage Creek <br />area. The only CNHP rare plant species with some potential for occurrence in the Sage Creek <br />area are Harrington beardtongue (Penstemon harringtonii) and Autumn willow (Salix serissima). <br />Habitat for Harrington beardtongue typically occurs at elevations between 6,800 and 9,200 feet, <br />and while much of the area is within this elevation range no occurrences of Harrington <br />beardtongue have been identified in this area. ` Habitat for Autumn willow is defined as occurring <br />between 7,800 and 9,300 feet. While elevations in the area approach 7,500 feet, no occurrences <br />of Autumn willow have been identified in the project area. <br />Wildlife: The sagebrush, pastureland and mixed brush vegetation types in this area support a <br />variety of wildlife species. Information on wildlife in the vicinity of the Sage Creek area was <br />obtained from federal and state agencies, as well as, site-specific studies for adjacent coal <br />properties. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />(CDOW), in partnership with CNHP, keep information on area wildlife including big game and <br />game birds and other species of concern. This includes federally- and state-listed threatened and <br />endangered (T&E) species, and other species considered to be rare or of special interest. Seneca <br />Coal Company (SCC), an affiliated company (both are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Peabody <br />2/24/10 <br />2010 RC Admin Permit 1