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There is no longer any coal processing equipment on site <br />2.05.6(2) Fish and Wildlife Plan <br />The post mining land use of the permit area is industrial and commercial, residential, and <br />recreation. Through the reclamation and revegetation plan OEI intends to provide a <br />buffer between the more active and passive land uses which accommodates wildlife. <br />This will be achieved through backfilling and grading to establish topographic buffers, <br />plantings, and revegetation. <br />Disturbance of wildlife will occur during the mining/reclamation activities. However, the <br />disturbance will be mitigated to the extent possible by minimizing the removal of existing <br />vegetation. All fences, roads, powerlines, facilities and structures required to carry on the <br />mining/reclamation operations will be designed and constructed to prevent the <br />entrapment of, or injury to, the wildlife species. Fence construction will be minimized <br />and of standard BLM configuration. Road traffic control will be enforced to prevent <br />injury or death to wildlife by moving vehicles. <br />Wildlife habitat will be retained and enhanced as practicable within the development <br />constraints of the approved post -mining land uses. <br />No threatened or endangered species of plants are known nor are any likely to occur on <br />the permit area based upon known habitat requirements of endangered or threatened <br />potential occupants (See Exhibit L in Appendix 2.04). A survey was conducted pursuant <br />to a stipulation of the permit and no endangered or threatened plant species occurred <br />within the permit area. No threatened or endangered species of wildlife are known to <br />exist on the permit area. In 1992, bald eagles wintered in trees along the Animas River <br />adjacent to the Durango Mall (Map 4-7). The winter resident eagles feed upon carrion <br />and apparently upon mule deer road kills along State Highway 160. This activity may <br />continue due to the density of traffic in this area. The major impact of the mine operation <br />is the reduction of some big game winter range. The total project removed approximately <br />59 acres from the production, with no detriment to the wildlife populations of the area. <br />Final reclamation has provided over 37 acres of additional reclaimed area for incidental <br />wildlife usage. <br />Golden eagles are not expected to be impacted to the same degree as bald eagles since it <br />is assumed from experience with resident golden eagles in other areas of Colorado that <br />they are not obligatory winter carrion eaters. The permit area does not offer good roost <br />sites or nesting habitat. The permit area does offer suitable hunting grounds which may <br />be enhanced when they are opened up and resident rodents and rabbits are displaced. The <br />open nature of the proposed revegetated areas should offer improved hunting habitat (also <br />applies to other rapture species) until, through succession, the area returns to a <br />predominantly pinyon juniper climax community. New powerline construction <br />undertaken by OEI will be in conformance with REA Bulletin 61-10 to prevent rapture <br />electrocution. <br />Abridged Permit Document 5-23 Permit Revision PR01 9/2014 <br />