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E~ NEC`q Seneca Coal Company <br />• .~ Coal Conwnl' <br /> <br />April 11, 2007 <br />Mx. Mike Boulay <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety ~~~ ~ t~ /~ D <br />101 South 3 ,Suite 301 y ~ 1 J <br />Grand Junction, CO 81501 ApR 1 L 2001 <br />(970) 242-5025 <br />IVlt~uny sn1 Safety <br />RE: Yoast Mine (Permit No. C-94-082) <br />Minor Revision 28 (MR-28), Reduction in Wildlife Monitoring <br />Mr. Boulay, <br />Seneca Coal Company (SCC) is submitting Minot Revision 28 to revise the Yoast Mine wildlife monitoring <br />plan to cease the winter aerial survey for big game. <br />A Fish and Wildlife Plan was developed/designed (in 1994) to provide ongoing information regarding <br />potentially significant impacts to certain wildlife groups and specific species identified in the initial impact <br />assessment. The current plan is described in detail in Tab 23, Fish and Wildlife Plan of the PAP. <br />The current wildlife monitoring program consists o£ <br />1. Winter aerial survey for big game QanuaryjFebruaty) <br />2. Monitoring Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks, golden eagle nest activity, and sandhill crane activity <br />(APB) <br />SCC began collecting winter aerial big game census data in 1985. The initial survey area included the Seneca <br />II permit area and aone-mile perimeter (17.5 mi~. The survey area was increased in size in 1994 (84.5 mi~ to <br />include Seneca II, Yoast and II-W Mines and again in 1996 to 89.5 tni2 . 'T'his expanded area has been <br />surveyed each year from 1996 through 2006. Elk densities in the Yoast area from 1994-2006 ranged from 1.6 <br />elkJ mil (1999) to 15.7 elk/ mil (1998). The observed trend in density generally follows that of the expanded <br />area. Most elk observed in the Yoast area axe associated with mountain brush habitat. See Seneca Yoast Mine <br />2006Annuat Reclamation Report, Wildlife Reportforfurtherditcarssions. <br />During the aerial surveys, most mule deer have been associated with sloping mountain brush habitats ox <br />steep, exposed south-facing slopes in the expanded survey area. Mule deer expend more energy walking <br />through snow than elk and typically concentrate in areas with high quality forage, which is available in <br />conjunction with lower snow depths. See Seneca Yoast Mine 2006 Annua! Reclamation Deport, Wildlife Report for <br />further discussions. <br />Seneca Coal Company • P.O. Box 670 • Hayden, Colorado 81838 <br />Telephone (970 278-3707 • FAX (970) 2783014 <br />