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Energy Corporation), has conducted annual site-specific surveys of the Sage Creek area as part of <br />its mine permit reclamation monitoring requirements for both the Seneca II and Yoast mines. <br />Big Game: The project area provides good year-round habitat for deer, elk and pronghorn. The <br />CDOW and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have identified winter range and critical <br />winter range within the project and adjacent areas (Natural Diversity Information Source; <br />http://www. ndis.nrel.colostate.edu; accessed 4/7/08). Aerial surveys conducted in 2007 by SCC <br />mapped elk herds wintering along the eastern edge of the project area. Map 3, PSCM 2010 <br />Exploration Program - Wildlife Habitat, shows wildlife habitats of importance identified by state <br />and federal wildlife agencies, as well as results of the last SCC big game/wildlife survey. <br />Ra tors: The project area contains potential habitat for raptors, including known nesting sites in <br />the sandstone cliffs along the eastern and southern boundary. CDOW data includes historic nest <br />sites of golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and other Buteo species. Map 3 shows raptor habitats <br />identified by SCC in their annual wildlife surveys. Adjacent areas contain historic nest locations <br />for great horned owl and prairie falcon. Bald eagles are listed as a state threatened species. <br />CDOW data shows a historic bald eagle nest location approximately 2 miles north of the project <br />area, as well as, winter range along the Yampa River corridor. The ferruginous hawk and <br />peregrine falcon are state listed species of concerns, as well as on the BLM's sensitive species list. <br />Their occurrence in the area is likely, however, there are no known nest locations in or near the <br />Sage Creek area (CDOW data shows the nesting distribution for the ferruginous hawk further to <br />the west in Moffat County). <br />Game Birds: Greater sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (both state and BLM species <br />of concern) are known to inhabit and/or utilize the area. Map 4, PSCM 2010 Exploration <br />Program - Grouse Lek Locations, shows grouse habitat in the project area. CDOW mapping, as <br />well as SCC site-specific surveys has identified 10 sage grouse (2 active) and 16 sharp-tailed <br />grouse leks (13 active) within or immediately adjacent to the proposed Sage Creek project <br />boundary. Additional leks likely exist in the general vicinity. <br />Sage Creek has consulted with the CDOW regarding potential impacts to grouse habitat in the <br />exploration program area. CDOW biologists surveyed the 15 proposed drill sites in October 2009 <br />and do not anticipate any unacceptable impacts to grouse the lek sites and or breeding habitat as a <br />result of the exploration activities. However, CDOW has recommended an appropriate season for. <br />drilling activities at each-exploration site to minimize potential impacts to grouse as outlined <br />below: <br />Early Season Drilling March 1 to July 1: ccu049, ccu051 <br />Mid Season Drilling July 1 to September 1: ccu050, ccu051, ccu059, ccu060, ccu06l <br />Late Season Drilling September 1 to March 1, 2011: ccu053, ccu057, ccu061 <br />Any Season Drilling: ccu049, ccu052, ccu054, ccu055, ccu056, ccu062, ccu063 <br />The CDOW wildlife consultation for this exploration program is provided in Appendix B. <br />Federal and State Species of Concern: Greater sandhill cranes are a state species of concern <br />(CNHP, 2008). CDOW has identified a historic sandhill crane nesting area along Sage Creek <br />northeast of the Sage Creek area. SCC site-specific surveys have documented historic sandhill <br />crane nest locations in the project area, but the 2009 survey found no recent evidence of nesting <br />201 0 RC Admin Permit 2 2124110