2012-01-06_PERMIT FILE - C1982057 (31)

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Monitoring • The monitoring plan described below is designed to focus on specific issues that were raised during baseline data collection and initial and subsequent review of the Mining and Reclamation Plan. Golden Eagles. In 1989, the tie-across haul road and initial construction of the mine complex were initiated. Work on the mine entrance haul road was initiated after July 15, the end of the nesting season for golden eagles in the area. This timing was consistent with the discussion with Mr. Mike Lockhart, USFWS (personal communication, October, 1984), that construction should not be conducted during the nesting season. This condition was to preclude disruption of nesting by the Hubberson Gulch golden eagle pair. Nest monitoring for the Hubberson Gulch golden eagle pair will continue annually in order to determine any impact that mining activities may have on Nests 5, 6, and 7 (see Exhibit 11-3). Nest status (active or inactive) and productivity will be recorded. Big Game. Because CDOW has defined the mine region as winter range for elk and deer, an annual winter aerial census will be conducted on the Seneca II-W Permit Area and a two-mile perimeter. This census flight will be made during December through early February of each year and species occurrence, total numbers, and distribution will be recorded. Prior to 1994, the II-W survey area includes the permit area; a two-mile perimeter to the west, north and east of the mine; and a three-mile perimeter to the south (approximately 35 mi2). The survey area was increased to 84.5 miz in 1994 to include Seneca II, Yoast and II-W Mines and to 89.5 mil in 1996. This expanded area has been surveyed each year from 1994 through 2006. Elk densities in the II-W area from 1994-2006 ranged from 1.4 elk/ mil (1994) to 14.5 elk/ mil (1996). The observed trend in density generally follows that of the expanded area. Most elk observed in the II-W area are associated • with mountain brush habitat. See Seneca II-W Mine 2006 Annual Reclamation Keport, Wildlife Report for further discussions. During the aerial surveys, most mule deer have been associated with sloping mountain brush habitats or steep, exposed south-facing slopes in the expanded survey area. Mule deer expend more energy walking through snow than elk and typically concentrate in areas with high quality forage, which are available in conjunction with lower snow depths. See Seneca H-W Mine 2006 Annual Reclamation Report, Wildlife Report for further discussions. The results of the past 13 years of annual winter aerial surveys at the II-W Mine indicate that big game winter use is more a function of winter snow depth and general herd movements rather than reclaimed vegetation success since no definitive use trends are shown based on the survey counts and population densities within the Yoast survey area. Now that active mining has ceased and reclamation/revegetation activities have been ongoing for a number of years, SCC will cease conducting annual winter big game aerial surveys and big game mortalities at the II-W Mine. Reduction of Monitoring. As stated above the wildlife monitoring program was reduced in 2007 to eliminate the annual winter big game surveys and now that that the reclamation activities are coming to an end, SCC would like to eliminate further wildlife monitoring. SCC is currently monitoring known Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks and the all known golden eagle nests for activity. During these surveys sandhill crane sightings are also documented. The CDOW has also been monitoring sharp-tailed grouse leks and the overall trends show that sharp- tailed grouse populations are on the increase. With the results of these trends the CDOW has been • trapping birds on the Seneca reclamation to further increase populations in other locales. TR-64 4 Revised 6/09