2010-11-16_PERMIT FILE - C1996083A (27)

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• Table 1. In those instances where drill sites aze located immediately adjacent to an existing road, data were kept only for the site. In those instances where there were long access roads, observations aze broken out as to drill site or access road where birds were observed. Unless there were observations of a specific nature big game including deer, elk and beazs are not discussed for each site. There was evidence of deer and elk activity at all sites and both species were observed on several occasions. The amount of activity within the azea was about what would be expected given the vegetation communities and topography. There was considerable evidence (tracks and scat) of beaz activity throughout the azea. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING T & E, SENSITIVE AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES In reviewing the list of species and their habitat requirements provided by the USFS the conclusion can be drawn that habitat for most of these species is lacking or of poor quality at, and around, all proposed drill sites and access roads. j Except for a crossing just upstream from the confluence of East and West Forks of Terror ~ Creek, and the inlet, outlet crossings on Terror Creek Reservoir, roads and sites aze • located away from streams and ponds, precluding the possibility of affecting fish habitat not only in the azea, but further downstream and in major drainages. The crossings are located where the bottom is naturally rocky and the banks on either side aze dry. This will minimize the amount of sediment that could possibly be stirred up and move ~ downstream. With the exception of the IPG-9 access road, none of the roads or drill sites is located in areas that would disturb amphibians or their habitat. Depending on where this road is located, and timing of construction, a very minor amount of amphibian habitat could potentially be affected. Two ground dwelling mammals aze listed by the USFWS. These aze the Canada lynx and black footed ferret. There is only a very small amount of potentially suitable habitat for the lynx along the Tertor Creek drainages. However, no lynx aze known to occur within many miles of this site and considerable suitable habitat exists in the azeas where they aze currently located. It is probably safe to assume that no lynx would move into the azea. Further, well site and road construction will not result in the loss of any of this habitat. No suitable habitat exists for the black footed ferret in this part of the state. No suitable habitat for spotted and Townsend's big-eazed bats exists in the vicinity of the proposed drill sites or access roads. None of these species would be affected by the proposed activities. ' Given the habitat requirements of many bird species listed as either T&E or Sensitive the possibility of affecting any habitat important to these species is minimal. There is a possibility that the azea might be used by some of the species. However, no habitat considered to be critical to most of the species will be affected. The only species commonly using shrubby habitats would be the loggerhead shrike, but in this case there