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Sage Creek Mine February 2009 <br />• April 28, May 2, and June 22 and 23. Early in the breeding season, nests were observed from a <br />distance with the aid of binoculars and a spotting scope, and during all surveys, guidelines <br />recommended by Grier and Fyfe (1987) were followed to prevent nest abandonment and injury to <br />eggs or young. <br />3.4.2 Raptor Nest Searches <br />Searches for new raptor nests, including all raptor species, were conducted on June 22 and 23, <br />2008 and were concentrated only around the proposed areas of surface disturbance (i.e., the <br />potential portal locations along the mine entrance face in Section 34 T6N:R87W and Sections 2, 3, <br />and 11 T5N:R87W as well as a transportation corridor in Sections 13, 23 -25, and 36 T5N:R87W <br />and Sections 31 and 32 T5N:R86W) and an extended 0.5 mile buffer. Biologists searched for new <br />nests by walking and slowly driving throughout the study area and stopping frequently to examine <br />typical nesting habitat, including cliff walls, rock outcrops, rough breaks, and woodlands. <br />Personnel also watched for adult raptors while conducting all surveys, and thoroughly searched for <br />nests in areas where individual adults or pairs were repeatedly observed. All nests were plotted on <br />1:24,000 topographic maps and locations were recorded using a hand -held Garmin© 72 global <br />• positioning system (GPS) receiver. The activity, status (condition of the nests), and production of <br />young at the active nests were recorded. <br />3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species and State Species of Special Concern <br />The USFWS has identified one federally listed terrestrial vertebrate species and four aquatic <br />vertebrate species that could occur in Routt County ( USFWS 2008). The Canada lynx (Lynx <br />canadensis) is listed as threatened and the bonytail chub (Gila elegans), Colorado pikeminnow <br />(Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) <br />are listed as endangered. Three other vertebrate species known to occur in Routt County were <br />recently removed from the listing process: the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (delisted July, <br />2007), the greater sage - grouse (petitioned, removed January 2005), and the boreal toad <br />(candidate, removed September 2005). With the exception of grouse and raptor nest surveys, no <br />specific protocols were required in the Sage Creek Mine baseline studies for any of the federal or <br />state listed species (including endangered, threatened, proposed, petitioned, and candidate <br />species). However, biologists watched for all federally listed species and the habitats that could <br />support them while conducting all other surveys. Searches for federal and state threatened and <br />endangered species were centered around the proposed areas of surface disturbance (i.e., the <br />• <br />N <br />