2012-10-01_REVISION - M1977310 ‎(10)‎

• Permit No: M1977310
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 10/1/2012
• Doc Name: EPP
• From: Cotter
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: AM1
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Species
Listing
Habitat Observed
During Survey?
Black - footed ferret
Mustela nigripes
E
No
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
T
No
Greenback cutthroat
Oncohynchus clarki stomias
T
No
Mexican spotted owl
Strix occidentalis
T
No
Gunnison's prairie dog
Cynomys gunnisoni
C
No
Gunnison sage grouse
Centrocercus minimus
C
No
North American wolverine
Gulo gulo luscus
C
No
Western yellow - billed cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
C
No
JD -6 Mine Environmental Protection Plan 61
Table 32. Montrose County Federal Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species
C = Federal candidate species
E = Federal endangered species
T = Federal threatened species
Sources: USFWS (2012), ERO (2012)
14.3 BLM Sensitive Species and Birds of Conservation Concern
The BLM sensitive species and birds of conservation concern information and lists were compiled using
data from the Biological Resources Report for the JD -8 Mine Expansion in Montrose County, Colorado
(ERO, 2012), and the Bureau of Land Management Threatened and Endangered Species Program (BLM,
2011).
According to ERO Resources Corporation's Biological Resources Report (2012), there is no potential
habitat for most BLM sensitive species near the JD -8 project area due to the site conditions, existing
vegetation communities, and existing disturbance.
The big free - tailed bat and the Townsend's big eared bat are both BLM sensitive species. Both species
have suitable habitat near the project area. According to ERO Resources Corporation, "due to limited
additional surface and that no potential roosting areas will be disturbed, it is unlikely that the [JD -8 Mine]
project will have an impact on either of these species." DOW (2011) stated that, "Active mines have been
shown to have little to no impact on bats due to continuous human activity in and around active mines.
However, inactive mines are often used by bats as either inter -roost sites or summer breeding areas. Many
of these inactive mines have "bat gates" on them, allowing bats access and denying human disturbance."
There are no bat gates installed at the JD -6 Mine, and the future return to active mining status is expected to
have no impact on bat populations.
The milk snake is also a BLM sensitive species that has potential habitat in the project area. ERO 2012
stated that, "Because of the small amount of disturbance [at the JD -8 Mine], it is unlikely that there will be
an impact on this species." The affected area of the JD -6 Mine is even less than at the JD -8 Mine.
The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) sensitive species are listed in Table 33.
4148A.120927 Whetstone Associates •