2012-05-08_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A

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- Mid Season Drilling July 1 to August 31: CCU058, CCU067, CCU084 - Late Season Drilling August 1 to December 1, 2013: CCU078, CCU081, CCU083, CCU085 - Any Season Drilling: CCU025, CCU031, CCU047, CCU065 A letter regarding the CPW wildlife consultation for this exploration program will be submitted as soon as it is received. Federal and State Species of Concern: Greater sandhill cranes are a state species of concern (CNHP, 2008). CPW has identified a historic sandhill crane nesting area along Sage Creek northeast of the Sage Creek area. SCC site - specific surveys have documented historic sandhill crane nest locations in the project area, but the 2010 survey found no recent evidence of nesting (Jones & Stokes, Yoast Mine 2010 Wildlife Monitoring, prepared for Seneca Coal Company). Additional nest areas are documented over two miles north, along the Yampa River. Area fields and improved cropland pasture are used for loafing and /or foraging. Other BLM sensitive species or state species of concern with the potential to occur in the project area are the northern goshawk, mountain plover, black tern, long - billed curlew and white -faced Ibis. "Their occurrence in the immediate project area would be as a rare seasonal visitor or migrant passing through the area. Threatened or Endangered Species: The western yellow - billed cuckoo is a candidate for listing by USFWS under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Habitat for this bird occurs along the Yampa River corridor and its presence is possible in the vicinity as a rare seasonal visitor or migrant passing through the area. As noted above, the bald eagle is listed as state threatened. Foraging bald eagles are commonly observed in the area in winter, when they are most numerous in the region. Habitat for the Bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker does not occur within the project area. Critical habitat for these fishes which are federally listed endangered species under the ESA exists in the Yampa River downstream in Moffat County. As part of the required consultation process, PSCM has discussed the exploration program with CPW biologists and resource managers. Appendix B, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Consultation, will contain a letter signed by the CPW Area Wildlife Manager prepared for this project once it is received by PSCM. It is not anticipated that the proposed exploration activities will negatively impact existing wildlife species or populations. Given this information, PSCM submits that the exploration and reclamation activities described in this application will not jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or endangered species listed pursuant to Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) or the Nongame, Endangered or Threatened Species Conservation Act (Section 33 -8 -101 et seq. C.R.S. 1973), or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat for those species. Soils: Soils within the project area are formed primarily from weathered fine - grained sandstone, siltsone and shale. The dominant soils are Argiustolls, Haplocryolls, and Palecryolls associations, Peabody Sage Creek Project 4 April 2012