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A letter from the CDOW Area Manager prepared for this exploration program is provided in <br />Appendix B, Division of Wildlife Consultation. <br />BLM 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 project area. SCC site-specific surveys have documented historic sandhill <br />crane nest locations in the project area, but the 2010 survey found no recent evidence of <br />nesting (Jones & Stokes, Yoast Mine 2010 Wildlife Monitoring, prepared for Seneca Coal <br />Company). Additional nest areas are documented over two miles north, along the Yampa <br />River. Area fields and improved cropland pasture are used for loafing and/or foraging. <br />Other BLM sensitive species or state species of concern with the potential to occur in the <br />project area are the northern goshawk, mountain plover, black tern, long-billed curlew and <br />white-faced Ibis. Their occurrence in the immediate project area would be as a rare seasonal <br />visitor or migrant passing through the area. <br />Threatened or Endangered Species - The western yellow-billed cuckoo is a candidate for <br />listing by USFWS under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Habitat for this bird occurs <br />along the Yampa River corridor and its presence is possible in the vicinity as a rare seasonal <br />visitor or migrant passing through the area. As noted above, the bald eagle is listed as state <br />threatened. Foraging bald eagles are commonly observed in the area in winter, when they <br />are most numerous in the region. <br />Habitat for the Bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker does <br />not occur within the project area. Critical habitat for these fishes which are federally listed <br />endangered species under the ESA exists in the Yampa River downstream in Moffat County. <br />As part of the required consultation process, PSCM'has discussed the exploration program <br />with CDOW biologists and resource managers. Appendix B, Division of Wildlife <br />Consultation, presents a letter from the CDOW Area Manager prepared for this project.. It is <br />anticipated that the proposed exploration activities will not negatively impact existing <br />wildlife species or populations. <br />Land Uses: Prevailing land uses within the project area include dryland farming (primarily <br />wheat), livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Cultivated and long-term fallow croplands are <br />interspersed with unimproved pasture/CRP lands. Cattle and sheep grazing are seasonal. A <br />portion of the area (State Trust Lands managed by CDOW) is open to seasonal wildlife <br />related recreation including hunting (big game and game birds) and wildlife viewing <br />activities. <br />Several Routt County roads traverse the area. Routt County Road 27 ("Twentymile Road") <br />is a major arterial road linking the western and southern parts of Routt County. County roads <br />27A, 51C and 51D are minor gravel-covered or unimproved dirt access roads. Ranch-based <br />features in the area include fences, reservoirs and stock tanks. There are three occupied <br />residences in the nearby vicinity; however, none of the exploration sites are within 0.5 miles <br />of any occupied residence. <br />There is a long history of coal mining in the immediate vicinity The Seneca II Mine and <br />Yoast Mine are closed surface mines adjacent and immediately to the east and southwest, <br />PSCM 2011 NOI 12 April 2010 <br />