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<br /> <br /> <br /> 56 C1981-041 RN7 findings <br />4 dated February 3, 2009 for specific details and findings applicable to approval of <br />the alternative postmining land use at the Unit Train Loadout. <br /> <br /> PR-6 was approved November 18, 2016. PR-6 approved changing the post mining <br />land use at the Roadside North Portal, Cameo Refuse Disposal Area 1, Cameo Borrow <br />Areas 1 & 2, and Ponds 6, 10, 11 and 13, from fish and wildlife and will be changed <br />to commercial/industrial. The landowner, the Town of Palisade, in cooperation with <br />Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, will be constructing a shooting range and <br />education facility on this and surrounding area. Construction of the facility began in <br />the spring of 2017. <br /> <br />XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife Resources Information is contained in Section 2.04.11 of Tab 11, <br />Volume 3, of the application. The Fish and Wildlife Plan is included within Section <br />2.05.6(2), Tab 16, Volume 5, of the application. <br /> <br />Portions of the permit area north of the Colorado River provide severe winter range <br />for a portion of the Roan Creek mule deer herd. The western third of the permit area <br />makes up a small part of the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area. Neither the mule deer <br />nor the wild horse population will be impacted significantly by mining, due to the <br />limited extent of additional surface disturbance proposed. Final reclamation as <br />proposed will restore habitat and forage for these species. With the approval of SL- <br />10 and TR-70, this area has received Phase III bond release and has been removed <br />from the permit area boundary. <br /> <br />The canyon walls in the general vicinity of the operation provide potential nesting <br />habitat for raptors, and there is an active peregrine falcon nesting use area located on <br />the Wildlife Habitat Map (Exhibit 25). The area used by the peregrines for nesting is <br />along a cliff face in Coal Gulch, near the north end of Mount Lincoln. A portion of <br />the cliff face, which has been used in recent years, is within the permit area. The <br />existing and proposed surface facilities are located along the river and at the lower <br />end of Coal Canyon. The facility areas are removed by at least 200 yards from <br />potential raptor nesting areas, and at least 500 yards from the cliff face where <br />peregrine nesting has been documented. The presence of Interstate 70 through <br />DeBeque Canyon may already have impacted raptors to some degree. No additional <br />impacts associated with mining activities are anticipated with respect to raptor <br />nesting. <br /> <br />Reclamation of the upper benches of the Coal Canyon refuse disposal areas reclaimed <br />in 2002 included distribution of surface rock as depicted on Figure 14-4, to enhance <br />habitat for prey species including cottontail rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. The <br />specified rock replacement plan is considered typical for other reclamation areas, to <br />the extent that suitable rock is available. Rocks were distributed on reclaimed surfaces <br />on the RSRDA slopes and RSRDA soil borrow area in 2002, and the South Fan slopes <br />in 2000. Few rocks were placed on the reclaimed North Portal facility area due to the