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Summary <br />In summary, the BTU EC mining operations, has many species of wildlife. The balances of number and type of <br />species indicate a healthy wildlife environment. Present mining operations appear to be in harmony with nature <br />resulting in negligible ,disruption to the wildlife. BTU EC's underground operations and underground expansion <br />should have minimal impact to wildlife in the area. <br />TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY <br />The following discussion on terrestrial ecology is based on information collected by BTU EC from; 1) Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife; 2) United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service; 3) Ecology Consultants, <br />Inc., and; 4) The Final Environmental Statement for Northwest Colorado Coal. <br />After a reconnaissance of the region, sites were selected for detailed studies of the structure and composition of <br />characteristic terrestrial communities. Care was taken to select locations which were representative of each <br />community type. Because of the ecological instability, which characterize cultivated lands, only those areas having <br />natural communities were sampled. It is emphasized, that the biotic communities surrounding the RAG EC mining <br />complex have been markedly affected by past and present agricultural and ranching practices. Vast areas of natural <br />vegetation have been replaced, by an extensive dry land grain industry, especially in the lower portions of the northern <br />slope of the Williams Fork Mountains. All of the region sagebrush communities have been modified in terms of <br />species composition and coverage by livestock grazing. Study sites were located in areas of low grazing intensity. <br />Four vegetation communities representing major ecosystems in the area were selected for the study. These were: <br />Cottonwood stand in Big Bottom <br />Sagebrush stand in Big Bottom <br />Sagebrush slopes and flatlands above Big Bottom <br />Sagebrush stand on the Williams Fork Mountains <br />The location of these intensive wildlife study areas is shown on' � Figure 38, Vegetation Community Sampling <br />Locations, found in Section 2.04.10, Vegetation Information. <br />Information was acquired from the Final Environmental Statement for Northwest Colorado Coal to show the key use <br />areas and any migration routes for mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, turkey vultures, sandhill crane, sharp -tail <br />grouse, and sage grouse. This information is provided on the following Figures: Figure 39, Mule Deer Use Areas and <br />Migration Routes, Figure 40, Elk Use Areas and Migration Routes, Figure 41, Pronghorn Antelope Use Areas, Figure <br />42, Greater Sandhill Crane, Turkey Vulture, and Sharp -Tail Grouse Use Areas, and Figure 43, Sage Grouse <br />Distribution, Habitat, and Strutting Grounds. <br />The animal carrying capacities by vegetation type in the regional area is shown on Table 44, Carrying Capacities by <br />Vegetation Type. This information was also acquired from the Final Environmental Statement for Northwest <br />Colorado Coal. <br />Permit Renewal RN -04 2.04 -41 11 /21106 <br />APPROVED, � EB 14 2007 <br />