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Vegetation and Wildlife <br /> The undisturbed lands in the permit area of the Keenesburg Strip Mine are moderately to well <br /> stabilized by a sandsage-prairie sandreed plant association. <br /> Using the IPaC program on the United State Fish and Wildlife Service's website,there are two <br /> threatened plant species that have the potential to be found within the permit area. These species <br /> include Ute Ladies'-tresses and Western Prairie Fringed Orchid. The web site, however, states <br /> that there are no critical habitats within the permit area. This is in agreement with the PAP, <br /> which states that there is no potential for impacts to rare and endangered species (Section <br /> 2.04.10). <br /> Wildlife at the site includes small rodents,raptors, and other birds. Deer and pronghorn are rare, <br /> as are most higher-order vertebrates, although coyote have been observed on site. Per the IPaC <br /> program, the threatened or endangered animal species that could be present in the area include: <br /> • Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse <br /> • Eastern Black Rail <br /> • Piping Plover <br /> • Whooping Crane <br /> • Pallid Sturgeon. <br /> As with plant species, the United State Fish and Wildlife Service's website indicates that there <br /> are no critical habitats for these animal species within the permit area, and this is in agreement <br /> with the PAP. <br /> Land Use <br /> The pre-mining land use classification of the area was rangeland, as shown on the general soil <br /> map of Weld County(from the Soil Conservation Service and included in the PAP, Section <br /> 2.04.3). The post-mining land use of the permit area is also rangeland, with some <br /> industrial/commercial, such as gas exploration. <br /> The land cannot support dryland farming, and historical attempts have been abandoned. The <br /> damage caused by past attempts will likely remain evident for many decades. <br /> Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br /> As noted above, coal extraction and other mining activities at the site have ceased, and <br /> backfilling of pits has been completed. <br /> Topsoil <br /> Topsoil (a.k.a. topsand)was replaced as follows: <br /> • Two feet over overburden spoil cover(on ash disposal areas) <br /> • Two feet over roads <br /> • Fifteen inches over the long-term spoil area <br /> 6 <br />