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Sharp-tailed grouse, blue grouse, and sage grouse all occur within the permit boundary. Sharp- <br />tailed grouse leks were observed in Sections 5 and 9. Blue grouse were observed in the permit <br />area throughout spring and summer, with one brood observed. Sage grouse range, production, <br />and brood areas overlap nearly 150 acres in Section 8 of the permit area. There are roughly 80 <br />acres of sage grouse range and production areas in Section 16, and the entire haul road corridor is <br />in sage grouse range. There were no active sage grouse leks observed within the permit area. <br />Raptors <br />Three species of raptors were found nesting in the wildlife survey area in 1993. They were <br />Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, and great horned owl. Seven other raptor species were observed <br />during the 1993 breeding season, but no active nests were found. The seven species were turkey <br />vulture, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, northern goshawk, Swainson's hawk, golden <br />eagle, and American kestrel. Bald eagles and an osprey were sighted east of the permit area. <br />Breeding Birds <br />Forty-one species of breeding birds were observed during the surveys. Species distribution <br />observed in specific habitats were: 28 species in bottomland areas, 20 species in mountain brush, <br />17 species in aspen, and 15 species in sagebrush. <br />Small Mammals <br />Six species of rodents and one species of shrew were captured during the survey. <br />Other Mammals <br />Other mammals observed during the survey were porcupine, yellow-bellied marmot, coyote, red <br />squirrel, and bat. Species identified by sign but not observed were badger, beaver, and skunk. <br />Four species of high federal and state interest were observed on or near the Yoast Mine permit <br />area. Those species are: <br />Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Colorado DOW endangered species) <br />Greater sandhill crane (Colorado DOW endangered species) <br />Bald eagle (Federal and Colorado endangered species) <br />Northern goshawk (Federal candidate for endangered species listing). <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The coal was mined by surface mining methods, beginning in the northern section of the permit <br />boundary, then progressing south in subsequent permit terms. The majority of the coal was <br />mined from the Wadge seam, the exception being the mining area located in the southwest part <br />of Section 20 and the northeast part of Section 29, where Wolf Creek Coal was also mined. The <br />initial boxcut, in October 1996, was located in the northeast area of Section 17, and progressed <br />Yoast Mine 15 December 15, 2010