Biological Studies Summary

Biological

Biological Agave

Lesser Long-Nose Bat

Palmer’s Agave

TITLE: Agave Survey of the Rosemont Holdings and Vicinity RELEASE DATE: March 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: The Palmer’s Agave is the primary foraging plant for the nectar-feeding and endangered lesser long-nosed bat (LLNB). WestLand conducted surveys to determine the number of agaves that might be impacted by the proposed activities at Rosemont and to try to gain an understanding of the importance of the agaves on the Rosemont property as a foraging resource for the bats. The primary conclusions are: • The bats heavily use Palmer’s agave during their late summer, post-maternity dispersal, and it is likely that these bats are able to find every agave on the landscape that is flowering.

• Survey findings show no difference between the property and the surrounding region with regard to the value as a foraging resource for the bats.

Agaves within the proposed operation site will be impacted. However, the possible effects on threatened and endangered species, including the possible effects to foraging habitat for lesser long-nosed bat, will be reviewed by the U.S. Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The Forest Service will initiate a preferred alternative.

Bats

Biological studies looked at the existing biota and assessed the potential impact mining operations may have on identified desert plant species and wildlife. Particular emphasis was placed on native species in the area.

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TITLE: Rosemont Holdings 2009 Bat Roost Survey RELEASE DATE: December 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: In 2009, Westland’s survey efforts for the lesser long-nosed bat (LLNB) focused on revisiting all roost sites that had previously supported nectarfeeding bats and sites that were expected to have the potential for bats based on late-season site visits in 2008. LLNB were observed in two of the 17 roost sites surveyed. One of these roost sites occurs within the project area and appears to be a day roost for nectarand insect-feeding bats. In addition, a large colony (approximately 50 bats) of Townsend’s big-eared bats was found within the Rosemont project area.

TITLE: Lesser Long-Nosed Bat Survey of the Rosemont Holdings and Vicinity RELEASE DATE: March 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: The lesser long-nosed bat (LLNB) is a migratory, endangered species that is present in southern Arizona during late spring to early fall. A detailed Westland study confirmed that the Rosemont project site has suitable bat foraging resources and day-roost sites. However, roosting on site by the bats is minimal. The most heavily used roost area in the region found during the survey is located on Coronado National Forest land northeast of the proposed project footprint.

provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s March 1998 Final ESA Section 7 Consultation Handbook, WestLand determined that there is no justification for a Coronado National Forest finding of “may affect, likely to adversely affect” for the Rosemont Copper project on the jaguar or ocelot in Arizona. Rather, based on the evidence, a finding of insignificant and discountable effects for both species is most appropriate.

Orchids

Jaguars and Ocelot

TITLE: Comments on the Coronado National Forest Determination of Effect of the Rosemont Project on Jaguar and Ocelot RELEASE DATE: January 2011 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: Based on conclusions derived from the best available scientific and commercial evidence available to WestLand, as well as the guidance

TITLE: Field Surveys For Hexalectris Colemanii In Southeastern Arizona RELEASE DATE: July 2010 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: WestLand surveyed for the orchid Hexalectris colemanii in identified survey sites in the Rosemont project area and in remote regional areas similar to Rosemont to identify additional populations.

The orchid was observed in known occupied sites at Sawmill Canyon, Cochise Stronghold West Canyon and McCleary Canyon, and at a new site in Wasp Canyon. With the results of the field surveys, the Cochise Stronghold population of H. colemanii is now the largest known population of this species. WestLand determined that new orchid sites are not likely to be found in the Rosemont project area in the future.

Pima Pineapple Cactus TITLE: Pima Pineapple Cactus Survey: Proposed Rosemont Project Santa Rita Road Waterline RELEASE DATE: December 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: Pima Pineapple Cactus (PPC) is listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, though there is no

designated or proposed critical habitat for this species.

WestLand Resources, Inc. conducted a survey for PPC along approximately 22.4 linear miles of proposed waterline, including alternative routes as part of the proposed Rosemont project. Previously surveyed portions of the project area and portions with no potential for PPC were not surveyed. Fifty-four PPC were found along the waterline agreement, including 48 live and six dead.

The survey followed guidelines set forth in a previous USFWS document, and WestLand technicians with PPC experience walked transects approximately 15 feet apart to attain 100 percent coverage of the survey area.

A single survey of suitable PPC habitat was completed.

The majority of the survey was completed in September 2009 and waterline segments were added and surveyed in October and November 2009. Slope angle and surficial geology were used to assess portions of the project area that did not warrant survey. Areas considered unsuitable for PPC include sandy wash bottoms, rock outcrops, and slopes of 15 percent or greater.

The distribution pattern found in this survey is similar to the pattern found in the 2008 surveys conducted in the region for other alternative utility routes.

TITLE: Pima Pineapple Cactus Survey of the Proposed Rosemont Project Waterline Alignment RELEASE DATE: March 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: As part of the Rosemont project, WestLand conducted a survey for Pima Pineapple Cactus (PPC) along an approximately 15.77 mile proposed waterline located along the northern and eastern boundary of the Santa Rita Experimental rosemont copper

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Range. WestLand mapped, tagged and recorded data on 35 live PPC that were found during the survey efforts.

TITLE: Pima Pineapple Cactus Survey for the Rosemont Mine Southern Utility Line Alternative, East of Sahuarita, Pima County, Arizona RELEASE DATE: August 2010 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: WestLand surveyed Pima Pineapple Cactus (PPC) along the southern utility line alternative to determine general distribution of PPC within this alignment. The survey found 52 PPC within this powerline alternative.

TITLE: 2009 Ranid Survey of the Rosemont Holdings and Vicinity RELEASE DATE: December 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: Following the frog (ranid) surveys completed in 2008, WestLand conducted further surveys in 2009 to determine whether ranids were present in the Rosemont holdings and vicinity, and to search for potential ranid habitat along drainage-ways between the Rosemont holdings and Cienega Creek. No ranids were observed within the proposed Rosemont footprint or the Rosemont holdings during the 2009 survey.

Snails TITLE: Ferris Missing Stations 48-52 RELEASE DATE: October 2010 SUMMARY: Available - From the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia TITLE: 1978 Invertebrates (Other Than Insects) of the Rosemont Area RELEASE DATE: October 2010 PREPARED BY: Walter Miller Brief Summary: A report in the University of Arizona, Science-Engineering Library and also Special Collections - Invertebrates (Other Than Insects) of the Rosemont area, 1978-indicated that the Rosemont area does not contain known endangered species of mollusks or arachnids.

Ranid TITLE: 2008 Ranid Survey of The Rosemont Holdings and Vicinity RELEASE DATE: April 2009 PREPARED BY: WestLand Resources, Inc. Brief Summary: WestLand conducted surveys for ranid frogs (Chiricahua and lowland leopard frogs) within and in the vicinity of the Rosemont holdings. The Chiricahua leopard frog is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This frog requires permanent or nearly permanent water sources.

Chiricahua leopard frogs were observed in several sites in and around the Rosemont holdings, one site of which is within the Rosemont project area, while other sites are within the holdings, but are outside the anticipated project impact area. WestLand’s 2008 survey findings included observations of ranids at five locations that had no previous known records.

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TITLE: Pilsbry and Ferris 1923 pg 51 RELEASE DATE: October 2010 PREPARED BY: Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia SUMMARY: Available – From the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia TITLE: Pilsbry and Ferris 1923 pgs 68 and 69 RELEASE DATE: October 2010 PREPARED BY: Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia SUMMARY: Available - From the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

TITLE: Talus Snails (Sonorella, Helminthoglyptidae) and Talus Slopes of the North Ridge of the Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, Arizona RELEASE DATE: April 2010 PREPARED BY: Westland Resources, Inc.

Brief Summary: Two species of talus snail were collected near Rosemont in 1917, in the 1960s and 1970s, along the north ridge of the Santa Rita Mountains. To better understand the distribution and species of Sonorella along the north ridge of the Santa Rita Mountains, WestLand visited the two major museum collections of this genus and conducted field surveys in 2008 and 2009 along both the east and west slopes of the north ridge and in 2008 the canyons east of the north ridge.

The two species were well represented on both sides of the north ridge and both occurred in most of the nearby talus slopes.

Soils TITLE: UA Final Report for Phase 1 RELEASE DATE: July 2007 PREPARED BY: J. Fehmi, University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Brief Summary: Preventing soil loss from the proposed mining site, reclaiming its capacity for productive use, and returning the site to a higher functioning plant community is the goal of this Rosemont reclamation effort. There is substantial cover of several native species of trees that are encroaching upon sites that have had a lower than normal fire frequency often combined with historical overgrazing by cattle.

Once the canopy cover of these species gets above approximately 25 percent, soil erosion and soil loss

often becomes a serious issue and the overall site becomes unstable. Proposed seed mixes—now being tested in greenhouses under conditions that mimic the outdoor proposed mining site environment—should reclaim the site to a more ideal condition. Additionally, soil and surface amendments have been selected to encourage the establishment of new seedlings. This study by the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources also includes the evaluation of seeded and unseeded sites within the footprint of the Florida fire.

TITLE: UA Phase II Preliminary (in progress) Report V.1 RELEASE DATE: March 2008 PREPARED BY: J. Fehmi, University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Brief Summary: Preventing soil loss from the proposed mining site, reclaiming its capacity for productive use, and returning the site to a higher functioning plant community is the goal of the Rosemont reclamation effort. There is substantial cover of several native species of trees that are encroaching upon sites that have had a lower than normal fire frequency often combined with historical overgrazing by cattle. Once the canopy cover of these species gets above approximately 25 percent, soil erosion and soil loss often becomes a serious issue and the overall site becomes unstable. This report by the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources contains preliminary results from the greenhouse research of proposed seed mixes to reclaim the site to a more ideal condition.

The second part of this report is the result of the evaluation of seeding after the Florida fire in the Coronado National Forest. The report implies that seeding after the fire did not result in significant establishment of seeded species, but rather natural regeneration appears responsible for the vegetation response after the fire.

amend with tackified straw. However, tests show that vegetation could be established across all soil types and rainfall scenarios.

size classes of Agave Palmeri to the prolonged drought stress from storage before replanting and the effect of water availability directly after replanting.

TITLE: Restoring Agave Palmeri Populations: Critical Factors for Seeding and Transplanting in Disturbed Landscapes (A Thesis for the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Arizona) RELEASE DATE: July 2010 PREPARED BY: Laura Lynn Pavliscak Brief Summary: Critical factors for the emergence and establishment of Agave Palmeri in disturbed landscapes were studied in this thesis by Laura Lynn Pavliscak, which concluded that wild transplants of all sizes from the study responded positively when replanting coincided with seasonal rainfall, suggesting that salvaging and replanting may be a promising restoration strategy. The thesis also looked at salvage and transplantation as a way to restore and maintain agave populations within areas of disturbance. Of specific interest was the growth response of various

TITLE: UA Phase II Project Report Final RELEASE DATE: December 2008 PREPARED BY: J. Fehmi, T. Kong & L. Wood, University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Brief Summary: The University of Arizona School of Natural Resources evaluated the reclamation potential of native seeds to grow in soils on the Rosemont site.

Four seed mixes, three soil types, three rainfall scenarios and three amendment treatments were tested. The greenhouse study revealed that the ideal combination for reclamation is to seed the selected species mix on Gila or Glance soils with average or high rainfall, and rosemont copper

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