Prior Notice Application under 157.205 of National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation to drill two new horizontal wells in Colden Storage under CP11-530.

NATIONAL FUEL GAS SUPPLY CORPORATION COLDEN STORAGE - AURORA AND HEATH WELLS AUGUST 2011 RESOURCE REPORT 3 3. FISH, WILDLIFE, AND VEGETATION This Resource Report provides an overview of existing vegetation, wildlife resources, aquatic life, wetland ecosystems and rare, threatened, and endangered species. 3.1 Vegetation and Wildlife Resources The construction well pads for the Aurora and Heath wells are both located within primarily open field surrounded by deciduous forested land. Typical animal species found in the type of habitat in the project area include whitetail deer, red and gray fox, coyote, raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, striped skunk, mink, cottontail rabbit, flying squirrels, chipmunk, several types of shrews, moles, mice and voles. Characteristic bird species found in the type of habitat in the project area include many migratory and resident passerine, heron, raptor species, mourning doves, several woodpeckers and wild turkey. Many of these bird and animal species would potentially pass through or utilize the Project area. Impacts to these species and their habitats would be relatively minor and temporary during work activity. No permanent impacts to plants or wildlife are anticipated as a result of the Project. 3.2 Aquatic and Wetland Ecosystems The Aurora construction well pad is located between two NYS Class B streams, one to the north and the other to the south. Class B indicates a best usage for swimming and other contact recreation, but not for drinking water. Both of these streams feed into the West Branch Cazenovia Creek, which ultimately feeds into Lake Erie. Heron, kingfisher, mink, raccoon and several amphibian and reptile species would be expected to utilize the stream for food and cover. The Aurora construction well pad and access road would not cross any portion of these two streams or have any impacts to the aquatic community. A walkover of the Aurora Well site indicated that the access road and southern edge of the construction well pad is located in and adjacent to a jurisdictional wetland. The Wetland Delineation Report is provided in the Resource Report 2 Attachment. Wetland W1 is located within the construction well pad boundaries and will require measures to prevent entry into and avoid direct impact to the wetland (e.g. demarcation, temporary fencing, and erosion control measures). The Heath construction well pad is located east of a NYS Class B stream, Hayes Hollow, and borders an unclassified, unnamed stream on the south edge of the pad. The access road for the construction well pad ...