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Vegetation and Wildlife Baseline Survey Report <br />Linc Energy Little Snake River Project <br />7.0 SURVEYOR QUALIFICATIONS <br />USFWS requires a statement of surveyor qualifications as part of a T &E field survey. Field <br />surveys must be conducted by qualified personnel with botanical experience and training in <br />conducting rare plant surveys, including Spiranthes diluvialis. Spiranthes diluvialis is difficult <br />to identify in the field, and since the orchid is rare and flowers for such a short time, few people <br />have had the opportunity to become acquainted with the species. The USFWS does not want to <br />exclude any person from conducting surveys. Therefore, the Service has developed a minimum <br />set of qualification criteria that demonstrate whether a surveyor is sufficiently acquainted with <br />Spiranthes diluvialis to collect consistent and accurate information for the survey report. <br />Documentation that these criteria have been met is accomplished by submitting a statement of <br />surveyor qualifications as part of the survey report. <br />Habitat Management Inc. (HMI) has extensive experience working with threatened and <br />endangered (T &E) species and compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). HMI has <br />conducted numerous Biological Assessments and Biological Evaluations for a variety of projects <br />such as coal mining, pipelines, powerlines, highway construction, wind power, and gravel mines. <br />HMI personnel have working knowledge with numerous listed species and are familiar with <br />techniques necessary to study rare and uncommon wildlife and plants. HMI personnel have <br />experience with USFWS in Section 7 consultation, Habitat Conservation Planning, and survey <br />methods. HMI staff have conducted rare plant surveys throughout the western United States <br />including: <br />• Ute Ladies' Tresses Orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) <br />• Blowout Penstemon (Penstemon haydenii) <br />• Desert Yellowhead (Yermo xanthocephalus) <br />• Colorado Butterfly Plant (Gaura neomexicana coloradensis) <br />The 2011 field surveys were conducted by Scott Benson: Mr. Benson obtained his M.S. degree in <br />Environmental Engineering from the Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology in 1992, <br />his B.S. in Wildlife Management and Conservation from the University of Wyoming in 1982, and a <br />minor in Range Management from University of Wyoming in 1985. Scott's environmental <br />consulting services include wildlife habitat assessment and impact analysis; endangered species <br />inventory; wetland delineation, mitigation, and functional value assessment; and vegetation <br />sampling. Scott has received training in the identification and survey methods for several <br />Threatened and Endangered (T &E) species, including Ute's ladies tresses, black- footed ferrets, <br />Preble's meadow jumping mouse, Wyoming toad, and grizzly bears. He has served as a <br />consultant for the assessment of mining impacts to stream systems, the identification of <br />Threatened and Endangered plant and animal species, and the planning of stream corridor habitat <br />restoration. Scott has conducted vegetation, wildlife, wetland, and alluvial valley floor <br />investigations for several surface coal mines in the Wyoming Powder River Basin including the <br />Youngs Creek Mine, Buckskin Mine, Black Thunder Mine, North Rochelle Mine, North <br />Antelope Rochelle Mine, Dry Fork Mine, and the KFx Mine. He has also prepared ecologic <br />inventories for several large surface hard rock mines in Montana including the Zortman Mine, <br />the Landusky Mine, Montana Tunnels, Stillwater Mine, Golden Sunlight, Kendall Mine, and the <br />McDonald Meadows project. Mr. Benson was previously employed for 10 years by the <br />Wyoming Game and Fish Department as a Habitat Biologist. <br />Page 29 <br />Habitat Management, Inc. December 2011 <br />