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Peabody Sage Creek Mine (C-2009-087) <br />Land Use <br />MT- 2 <br />Rangeland (sheep and cattle grazing) is the dominant land use in the permit area and adjacent area. <br />Other land uses are: cropland (hay fields), wildlife habitat, industrial/commercial (mining, oil wells, <br />electric transmission lines), developed water resources (reservoirs), recreation (hunting and wildlife <br />viewing) and residential. The approved postmining land uses for the PSCM are rangeland, wildlife <br />habitat, and recreational use. <br />Wildlife <br />The PSCM permit area and adjacent area provide habitat for the following types of wildlife: big game, <br />small mammals, upland game birds, raptors, breeding birds (song birds), amphibians, reptiles, and <br />fish. Fish habitat is in the Yampa River. The following vegetation communities provide habitat for <br />birds and mammals: grasslands, sagebrush shrub lands, mountain brush, and isolated pockets of <br />aspen and coniferous forest. Potential raptor nesting habitat is provided by cliffs and rock outcrops <br />and scattered box elder and cottonwood trees. Habitat for all types of wildlife is provided in mesic <br />bottomlands and riparian areas that occur along larger drainages, and by wetland vegetation that <br />occurs around ponds and impoundments. <br />The PSCM permit area adjoins a reclaimed mine, the Yoast Mine (C1994082) and will incorporate a <br />portion of the reclaimed Seneca II Mine (C1982057). Annual wildlife monitoring was conducted for <br />the two reclaimed mines from 1994 to 2007. Wildlife baseline studies were conducted for PSCM in <br />2008. Details of the wildlife studies are in Exhibit 2.04.11 E1 of the permit application. Wildlife <br />observed during the monitoring and baseline studies included big game, upland game birds, raptors, <br />breeding birds (song birds), and small mammals. The 2008 baseline survey found 62 bird species, 11 <br />mammal species, and one amphibian species (boreal chorus frog). Bird species diversity was highest <br />in the mountain brush habitat (22 species) and grassland habitat (21 species). The most abundant <br />bird species was the cliff swallow which tended to occur in large flocks and nesting colonies. <br />Tables 2.04.11-T6, permit section 2.04.11, and section 2.05.6 have been updated to reflect changes to <br />species of concern. Three special bird species are known to occur in the permit area; bald eagle, <br />Columbian sharp -tailed grouse, and greater sandhill crane. The bald eagle is listed as state <br />threatened. Columbian sharp -tailed grouse is a state species of special concern, and known to use <br />the permit area. The permit area encompasses nine lek sites, none of which are located in the PSCM <br />surface disturbance area. Short-term habitat loss could occur, but limited to areas of surface facilities. <br />Appropriate reclamation would likely restore this habitat, and the species is known to use reclaimed <br />mining areas. The greater sandhill crane is a state species of special concern and is known to nest in <br />the permit area. Nest sites were not located near surface disturbance areas and loss of habitat is not <br />expected. <br />The following special status species have potential to occur in the permit area based on habitat <br />requirements but do not have known occurrences: midget faded rattlesnake, northern leopard frog, <br />Page 7 of 12 <br />