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Big Game <br />The Proposed Action would account for a cumulative development density of about 14 -15 <br />surface facilities and about 2.6 total miles of access road per square mile over the life of the <br />lease. Because of staggered development (about 7 surface facilities per year) and progressive <br />reclamation of these facilities over the life of the lease, it is estimated that the facility access <br />system would, at any given time, increase the density of unimproved tracks to the existing road <br />and trail network of about 3.5 miles per square mile by about 25 percent (primarily seldom used <br />two- tracks). In practice, facilities of this nature have typically been sited to take advantage of the <br />existing road and trail network (about one - third). On level terrain (e.g., drainage bottoms and <br />ridgelines), equipment travels cross - country with little, if any, blade -work and, in the absence of <br />further recreation, use eventually leaves little evidence of a vehicle track. Due in large part to <br />limited license availability for big game in GMU 10, and past success in obliterating these tracks, <br />temporary increases in the availability of short spurs off the existing network of unimproved <br />vehicle tracks in lower Red Wash is considered discountable as an additive source of harassment <br />or indirect habitat loss (e.g., avoidance - induced disuse, elevated energetic demands). <br />Construction and drilling activity at each site would be brief (4 -7 days). In most years, <br />installation of these facilities takes place in the late summer or fall months timeframes that <br />have the least potential to interfere with animal distribution or contribute to extraneous energy <br />demands during more sensitive periods involving late gestation, lactation, or severe winter <br />weather conditions. <br />Raptors <br />Because surface use in close proximity to raptor nesting activity is capable of failing nest <br />attempts or reducing the number of nestlings that successfully fledge from that attempt, WRFO <br />routinely applies no- surface - occupancy stipulations (no surface use within 1/8 to 1/4 mile) and <br />timing limitations (activity deferrals within 1/4 to 1 mile) as buffers around functional nest sites. <br />The variance in buffer size reflects management status and susceptibility of each species to <br />disturbance. These stipulations would be applied to known nest site within the lease, however, it <br />is recognized that nest sites, particularly tree and ground sites, are not static and once the site <br />becomes abandoned the stipulations may offer little utility. In instances where nest locations shift <br />or new nest territories are discovered, the WRFO applies Conditions of Approval on a project - <br />specific basis that effectively mimic these lease stipulations. It's anticipated that WRFO wildlife <br />staff would continue to perform raptor nest surveys for surface facilities associated with the <br />advance of BME's underground mine panels, but under BLM budgetary or manpower <br />constraints, BME may be responsible for the conduct of surveys through the use of qualified <br />biological consultants using the most current WRFO raptor survey protocols. <br />Cumulative Effects: Leasing and development of the Red Wash Tract would contribute <br />incrementally to those surface uses that physically or behaviorally detract from the utility of <br />habitat for resident wildlife, particularly big game winter range and raptor nest and foraging <br />habitat. As the Proposed Action is conditioned (timing limitations, reclamation), the contribution <br />of lease tract development in the context of other land uses and processes that are currently <br />prevalent in GMU 10 (e.g., oil and gas development, livestock grazing, vehicle -based recreation, <br />proliferation of invasive annual weeds), and relative to the extent of functional habitat that <br />DOI- BLM -CO- 110- 2012- 0023 -EA 56 <br />