Sage-grouse Conservation Forecasting for Newmont Mining Corporation’s IL and TS-Horseshoe Ranches

Executive Summary

As a result of discussions and concept development activities with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that began in 2011, Newmont Mining Corporation (Newmont) entered into a formal partnership with TNC in April 2013. Further into the partnership, TNC and Newmont established a Consulting Services Agreement to apply the Landscape Conservation Forecasting TM process – including satellite imagery, remote sensing, predictive ecological models, and cost-benefit assessments– to two large landscapes within Northern Nevada. These areas, the IL Ranch and the TS and Horseshoe Ranches are owned and operated by Elko Land and Livestock Company (ELLCo), a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont. These ranches comprise a portion of the lands owned by Newmont and ELLCo in Nevada. The agreement provided that:

• “The Nature Conservancy will apply advanced conservation planning methodologies to produce a greater sage-grouse (GSG) conservation and habitat restoration plan (Plan) for roughly 1.2 million acres of fee-owned and federal lands that are managed by Newmont and ELLCo in Nevada.
• The recommendations will inform the stewardship actions that Newmont may subsequently take on their lands to improve critical ecosystem functionality.
• The Plan will also demonstrate a scientifically defensible methodology and set of metrics for measuring and predicting changes in habitat conditions for sage grouse (and other species of concern, namely mule deer and golden eagle).”