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Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment <br /> Royal Gorge Field Office DOI-BLM-CO-F020-2018-0083 EA <br /> Environmental Effects <br /> Proposed Alternative <br /> Direct and Indirect Impacts <br /> Environmental impacts to terrestrial wildlife, such as pronghorn,within the proposed action area <br /> would occur through exclusion and disturbance of terrestrial wildlife in the proximity of the <br /> proposed action area from the presence of humans and mining equipment. Environmental <br /> impacts to migratory birds within the proposed action area might occur through exclusion and <br /> disturbance of migratory birds in the proximity of the proposed action area from the presence of <br /> humans and use of mining equipment. Impacts to wildlife and migratory birds from exclusion <br /> caused by humans and mining equipment might include temporary(April 1 to October 31) <br /> reduction of suitable and available habitat in the proximity of the proposed action area. The <br /> disturbance area is geographically outside of critical winter refugia and production areas for all <br /> ungulates as mapped by Colorado Park and Wildlife. No suitable nesting habitat exists for the <br /> mountain plover within the action area. Other migratory birds that maybe present in the action <br /> area during brood rearing season for most Colorado migratory birds(May 15-July l 5)would be <br /> able to access habitat outside of the disturbance area and footprint of the action area. Therefore, <br /> the long term impacts to terrestrial wildlife and migratory birds from exclusion would be <br /> negligible because the footprint of the action area is small (2.0 acres),the disturbance from <br /> human presence and mining equipment would occur during a limited time period and adjacent <br /> habitat that is undisturbed by human presence and mining is available for wildlife and migratory <br /> birds to use. <br /> Protective/Mitigation Measures <br /> None <br /> Cumulative Impacts <br /> The cumulative impact of human presence and the use of mining equipment in the action area <br /> would be small in scale(2.0 acres) but still additive to the impact of overall use in the area. No <br /> significant cumulative impacts would occur from the proposed action. <br /> 14 <br />