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Biological Evaluation Sensitive Flora and Fauna 2016

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Biological Evaluation Sensitive Flora and Fauna 2016 Silver Standard Resources, Inc. Biological Evaluation For Sensitive Flora and Fauna 2016 PERDITO EXPLORATION PROJECT NOVEMBER, 2016 Silver Standard Resources, Inc. Perdito Exploration Project BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION - 2016 FOR SENSITIVE FLORA AND FAUNA 1.0 INTRODUCTION Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was retained in 2016 by Silver Standard Resources, Inc. (Silver Standard) to re-evaluate an historic exploration area near Conglomerate Mesa, California for sensitive fauna and to verify a sensitive floral survey that occurred in 1997 with follow-up surveys completed in 2014 by Mr. Mark Bagley of Bishop, California. Also in 1997, BHP Minerals International Exploration, Inc. (BHP) retained Kiva Biological Consulting (aka Mr. Peter Woodman of Bakersfield, California) to evaluate an area for faunal resources, the footprint of which appears identical to that of the current Perdito project, but was known at the time as the Conglomerate Mesa Project. To facilitate this work, Cedar Creek consulted with the Ridgecrest Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (Ms. Caroline Woods) to coordinate locations for surveys and target flora and fauna. At present, Silver Standard is proposing to conduct a drilling program in this remote area of Inyo County within Township 17S, Range 39E, Sections 3 and 4 on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ridgecrest Field Office. As indicated above, the proposed drill roads appear to be identical to those established, reclaimed, and revegetated in 2000, by BHP. In addition to these previously disturbed alignments, the BLM has provided a few alternate alignment segments and locations that occur on undisturbed native ground. Project area elevations range from 6400 to 7400 feet above MSL and climate is temperate continental (hot dry summers and cold dry winters) with average annual precipitation in the 6-inch range. Dominant vegetation of the area is largely black sagebrush scrub, but is transitional with desert (shadscale) scrub with pockets of single-leaf Piñon (and occasional California juniper) as scattered stands at elevation. Immediately to the east of the project across Santa Rosa Flat (shadscale scrublands) is a large area visually dominated by Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) a few of which extend into the project area. 2.0 METHODS Prior to fieldwork in 2016, a list of potential sensitive fauna and flora that may be resident in the project area was compiled and evaluated for veracity of that potential (e.g., Western Grebe is not possible given the lack of open water in the project area). Sources included past survey efforts by Bagley and Woodman as well as an IPaC Trust Resource Report (1/18/16) from the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Also evaluated were California Dept. of Fish and Game information sources and most important, information provided by the BLM. California Natural CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. PAGE 1 Diversity Database searches were included with previous investigations so were not repeated in 2016. These efforts yielded the following fauna and flora (Table 1) with the potential for residence in the project area rated as “remote” or greater. Also indicated on Table 1 is the optimal survey window for each taxon (May provided the best coverage as indicated in red) as well as an indication of past observations of specific taxa. Table 1 - Perdito Project - Taxa of Interest to the BLM - Survey Windows for Fauna (Primary Interest) and Flora (Secondary Interest) Fauna March April May June July Aug Sept Obsvd.* Golden eagle XXX XXX XXX Sharp-shinned hawk XXX XXX XXX XXX Cooper's hawk XXX XXX XXX Prairie falcon XXX XXX XXX XXX Loggerhead shrike XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX OOO Pallid bat XXX XXX Spotted bat XXX XXX Townsend's big-eared bat XXX XXX Western mastiff bat XXX XXX American badger XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX Nelson's bighorn sheep XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX Mountain lion XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX Panamint alligator lizard XXX XXX XXX Black swift XXX XXX XXX Flora March April May June July Aug Sept Obsvd. Ericameria nana XXX XXX XXX Purshia mexicana var. dubia XXX XXX Cymopterus ripleyi XXX XXX XXX Erythranthe calcicola XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX Oxytheca watsonii XXX XXX XXX Mentzelia inyoensis XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX Perityle inyoensis XXX XXX XXX OOO Sclerocactus polyancistrus XXX XXX XXX XXX OOO Cryptantha tumulosa XXX XXX XXX XXX Astragalus cimae var. sufflatus XXX XXX XXX Alliuym atrorubens var. cristatum XXX XXX XXX OOO Boechera shockleyi XXX XXX OOO Erioneuron pilosum XXX XXX OOO Hecastocleis shockleyi XXX XXX XXX OOO Oenothera caespitosa ssp. crinita XXX XXX XXX XXX OOO * Taxa historically observed by either Woodman (fauna) or Bagley (flora) within the project area. As indicated, the primary emphasis of 2016 surveys was an evaluation of sensitive fauna, however, a secondary emphasis was “verification” of the previous floral surveys, the most recent of which was by Bagley in 2014. In this regard, Table 2 indicates the “sensitive” status of the 15 floral taxa rated as having at least some remote potential for existence in the project area as well as an indication of those that have been observed in the area (bold print). Prior to 2016 field activities, a field guide to these 15 floral taxa was prepared and included photos, line drawings, taxonomic characters, habitat requisites, etc. to facilitate positive identification of any observed specimens while in the field. This field guide is included with this document as Appendix A. CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. PAGE 2 Table 2 - Perdito Project - Rare and Sensitive Plants - 2016 BLM/USFS CNPS Global State Scientific Name (Synonyms) * Common Names Status Rank Rank Rank Allium atrorubens var. cristatum Crested onion 4.3 G4T4 S4 Astragalus cimae var. sufflatus Inflated Cima milkvetch BLMS 1B.3 G3T3 S2 Boechera shockleyi Shockley's rock cress USFSS 2B.2 G3 S2 Cryptantha tumulosa New york mountain cryptantha 4.3 G4 S4 Cymopterus ripleyi var. saniculoides Ripley's springparsley BLMS 1B.2 G3G4T3Q S1 Ericameria nana dwarf goldenbush 4.3 G5 S4 Erioneuron pilosum Hairy erioneuron 2B.3 G5 S3 Erythranthe calcicola Limestone monkeyflower BLMS 1B.3 G2 S1 Hecastocleis shockleyi Shockley's prickleleaf 3 G3G4 S3S4 Mentzelia inyoensis Inyo blazingstar BLMS USFSS 1B.3 G3 S3 Oenothera caespitosa ssp. crinita Cespitose evening-primrose 4.2 G5T4T5 S4 Oxytheca watsonii Watson's oxytheca 2B.2 G3 S1 Perityle inyoensis Inyo rockdaisy BLMS 1B.2 G2 S2 Purshia mexicana var. dubia Mexican cliffrose G5 Sclerocactus polyancistrus Mojave fish hook cactus 4.2 G3 S3 * Bold print indicates observed in the project area. From May 6th through May 8th 2016, Cedar Creek’s Senior Range / Wildlife Ecologist (Mr. Steven R. Viert) surveyed the Perdito project area for evidence or direct observations of the taxa indicated on Table 1. Weather was partly sunny with short periods of light rain and one short period of snow flurries with highs in the 50’s and 60’s. Winds were restricted to light breezy conditions at worst, calm at best. Surveys largely consisted of a series of pedestrian transects across the project area (as indicated on Map 1); binocular surveys of appropriate landscape features (cliffs, trees, volcanic rock outcrops, etc.) out to the 500 meter boundary for faunal habitats, nests, etc.; and a spotlight survey during evening hours for potential bat identification. A Garmin 650t Montana GPS was carried during all daily surveys to record pedestrian transects, with one exception. The exception involved the easternmost surveys implemented during the first day when the GPS battery failed and transects were necessarily recorded on detailed field maps. The GPS battery was replaced with new AA batteries purchased prior to the next field day. At the time of survey, alternative road alignments as proposed by the BLM had not been developed and therefore, were unknown to Mr. Viert. As a result, these alternative alignments were not directly surveyed in the field. To the contrary, Silver Standard’s proposed alignment that followed BHP’s old reclaimed road was the principal alignment for site-specific field surveys given the potential for direct impact. As such, a quick perusal of Map 1 indicates survey routes that either were directly on the proposed alignment, or were slightly uphill or downhill, but parallel to, the proposed alignment. Holding to this alignment facilitated a careful review of the previous disturbance footprint to see if new individuals of the 15 sensitive species had taken root over the intervening 16+ years, while allowing a review to either side for both floral and faunal observations. Binocular surveys were completed using 10x50 Redfield optics (military quality) that provide an inordinate ability to gather light for searching dark grottos, caves, rock crevices, etc. for evidence of habitation by bats, raptor nests, or materials associated with wildlife use. Scans of rock outcrops and/or tree canopies occurred at CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. PAGE 3 approximate 200-meter intervals along each transect indicated on Map 1. In the northern half of the project area with significant numbers of Piñons, binocular scans were completed on approximate 100-meter intervals to facilitate multiple angle views of the various tree canopies for raptor nests. Scans typically occurred over a one or two minute period, but occasionally scan durations were increased to as much as four or five minutes depending on outcrop and tree density. Spotlight surveys were completed during a single evening (6th) using a 1M candlepower spotlight with both flood and spot capabilities. This survey occurred from approximately one hour before to one hour after sundown. Given that the parking area on the eastern side of the project was in the lowest portion of the project area and within a canyon, it was determined to be the most conducive for making observations of any foraging bats.
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