2012-08-10_PERMIT FILE - C1981018A

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Coyote - This wide ranging species readily adapts to human activity and coupled with its secretive habits is seldom forced to vacate areas of moderate human use. Increased hunting pressure is the largest potential problem, but would not seriously impact coyote population Black- footed Ferret - This much searched for but not found prime species has been of much concern for the applicant. The prairie dog populations (up to 290 /hectare) on the northern boundary of the potential area of impact were believed large enough to support a small ferret population, but no ferrets were found. In addition to the 12 plus man - months spent in actual routine field work collecting terrestrial vertebrate data in the vicinity, a concentrated two man -weeks were spent specifically in search of ferrets. This effort included observations with a Javelin 260 night vision scope plus most of the standard ferret seeking techniques proposed by Tim Clark in a paper being reviewed for publication in the Great Basin Naturalist. No ferrets were seen nor evidenced. The US Fish & Wildlife Service declared the Black- Footed Ferret nonexistent in northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah allowing the reintroduction of this species as a "Nonessential Experimental Population ". On November 15, 2001 ferrets were reintroduced in Wolf Creek northwest of the mine. The Deserado Mine's activities are all outside of the designated ferret management area. Thus, restrictions on surface disturbing activities are minimal. Since the presence of ferrets is dependent upon the perpetuation of prairie dogs, impacts will be minimized by controlled disposal and simultaneous revegetation reclamation procedures. Active dumping of waste will be restricted to only necessary areas at a time. This will promote as rapid a return to and use of the area by prairie dogs as possible. Bobcat - This wide - ranging prime species is secretive and nocturnal by nature so it is rarely observed particularly in relationship to its density. However, increased demand for bobcat fur has resulted in a serious decline in population numbers and caused concern among management agencies for population stability throughout its range. This concern is heightened in areas of high or increased human use such as proposed for the coal mine area. Since the sightings and sign of activity were observed only in the ledges located to the south, near the White River and on the west borders of the proposed coal mine, public access roads into the pinyon - juniper habitat of this ledge dominated landscape will be kept to a minimum. Mule Deer - This prime species is a winter migrant into the projected area of impact, but there are also summer residents scattered in the pinyon juniper and concentrated in the riparian communities. During spring, summer and fall daylight hours, the mule deer spend most of their time in the pinyon - juniper and riparian communities where security cover is good, but during twilight and nocturnal hours they utilize sagebrush and grass communities for feeding. In winter they also feed during the day. Construction and operation of the mine will not appreciably impact the deer herd if winter harassment and road kills can be controlled. Company vehicles of all kinds (including Minor Revision #147 (05/2011) IV -52