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XV. Air Resource Protection - Rule 4.17 <br />The Permit was found to be in compliance with Rule 4.17. The mine operates under a valid Air <br />Emissions Permit, 95MF1040. <br />XVI. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Factors - Rule 4.18 <br />The Permit was found to be in compliance with Rule 4.18. <br />Descriptions of fish and wildlife resources are contained in Section 2.04.11 of the PAP. The fish <br />and wildlife portion of the reclamation plan is in Section 2.05 of the PAP. Other wildlife related <br />information is contained in Section 4.18, Exhibit 11 and Maps 13, 13A, 13B, 14, 14A, 15, 15A, <br />and 15B of the PAP. <br />With the expansion of mining into the South Taylor area, the Colorado Division of Parks and <br />Wildlife expressed concerns regarding the re-establishment of mountain shrub and aspen <br />communities, varying topsoil replacement depths to increase diversity, and developing snow <br />holding sites (letter dated July 5, 2007). These concerns were addressed in TR -72 (approved June <br />2009) and in TR -84 (approved July 2011). <br />Locations of possible raptor nesting sites within the Collom area have been included in the maps <br />discussed in this section. Potential raptor nest sites that could possibly be impacted by mine related <br />activities will be relocated to a nearby area not targeted for disturbance. In the Collom area, no <br />designated critical habitat for any species is known to exist. <br />A. Deer and Elk <br />Colowyo has worked closely with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife in developing <br />wildlife and range condition inventories for the Mine as well as a deer and elk habitat mitigation <br />plan. The entire permit area is designated as winter range for both mule deer and elk. <br />B. Sage Grouse <br />Sage grouse mitigation measures include elimination of grazing in the permit area and reduction <br />of grazing in adjacent lands. As described in other sections of this document, with TR -82 Colowyo <br />provided a detailed plan for the variable replacement depth of topsoil on the backfilled and re- <br />graded portions of the West Pit and South Taylor Pit. Related to the variable topsoil, Colowyo <br />designed a seeding program whereas flatter slopes were seeded to sagebrush steppe, which is <br />known to enhance Sage Grouse habitat. In the Collom Area, two Greater Sage -Grouse and two <br />Columbian sharp -tailed grouse lek sites would be impacted by mining disturbances. Based on <br />survey information captured and discussed in Section 2.04.11(4), 2.05.4, and 2.05.6(2) of Volume <br />15 in the PAP, the impact to the overall grouse populations in the area can reasonably be described <br />as minor. <br />Revised Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance August 2018 <br />Permit Renewal No. 7 P a g e 152 <br />