2021-04-14_PERMIT FILE - C1996084 (8)

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Rule 2: • Minimization of Fish and Wildlife Impacts Impacts on wildlife from construction and operation of the Lorencito Canyon Mine will occur. General habitat loss, small mammal and herptile losses, and deer, elk, black bear, and turkey displacements will be offset by reoccupation of the disturbance area after reclamation. In addition, some animals will habituate to the on-going operational activities. Conversion of the surface mine area from an oak/pinyon to a grassland community type will decrease mule deer, elk, black bear, and turkey usage of the area. Although the approved seed mix provides palatable species for elk, they typically only utilize these species during the non- wintering period. Therefore, the conversion to grassland will decrease the attractiveness of the area to deer and wintering elk. In addition, elk tend to avoid open areas larger than 30 acres and generally do not utilize areas more than 600 feet from security cover (Hoover, 1984). However, since the post mine topography will be similar to existing conditions, elk may fmd suitable security cover (i.e., drainages and ridges) to utilize portions of the surface mine area during the non- wintering period. Also during reclamation, boulder and brush piles will be placed throughout the surface mine disturbance area. In order to provide shrubs within the surface mine azea, a woody shrub component shall be added to the revegetation seed mixture. Shrubs included aze Woods rose, mountain mahogany, skunkbrush, and winterfat. The percentage of woody shrubs to be added aze provided in the revegetation section of 2.05. These shrubs shall be seeded concurrently with the • oak/pinyon reclamation seed mixture. Also where practicable, a Madge Rotoclear shall be used to incorporate native mulch into the topsoil to provide an additional seed base. Rock piles shall be established for both small mammal habitat and raptor perch/nest sites. Piles constructed for raptor perch sites shall be placed on the leewazd side of hills neaz but not on the ridge top. The piles shall consist of two or three lazge boulders propped together. These boulders shall be as lazge as construction equipment can safely handle. Rock piles constructed for small mammals shall be placed in suitable aeeas along bottoms and/or other protected aeeas. These piles shall be approximately 12' X 12' by 6' high. In addition to providing wildlife habitat, these piles will provide microclimates for the establishment of native plant species. Brush piles shall be constructed according to the following guidelines. Numerous small piles constructed of brush debris left over from mining shall be place pazallel to the prevailing winds. Like the rock piles, the brush piles will provide micro habitats for small mammals and provide an azea for the establishment of native plant species. Reclamation will replace existing mountain shrub, and oak/pinyon habitats with similar habitats within the portal areas. Species in the revegetation seed mixtures were selected for their palatability, nutritional, and cover values for wildlife species identified in the area during baseline studies. After reclamation, these areas would again be available to wildlife. Post mine land use within these areas will remain as rangeland/wildlife habitat. • PERMR.rtv\Apnl T). 199'! 2.05-02 (revised 4/21/97)