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• Potential Displacement: While the areas of high-quality habitat are being preserved, Sage-Grouse in the re- <br /> gion may still be displaced due to localized disturbances from mining activities.The displacement is expected <br /> to be minimal,given the focus on lower-quality habitat for mining. <br /> 5.2 Indirect and Cumulative Impacts <br /> Indirect impacts refer to secondary effects of the project,while cumulative impacts consider the broader context <br /> of multiple land-use activities over time. These impacts can occur beyond the immediate mining footprint and <br /> potentially affect the broader Sage-Grouse population and habitat. <br /> • Indirect Impacts on Habitat Connectivity:While the mining activities are restricted to low-quality habitat <br /> areas,there may be indirect impacts on the connectivity of the Sage-Grouse habitat. Fragmentation of habitat <br /> due to mining could affect movement patterns of Sage-Grouse, especially if they need to traverse disturbed <br /> areas to reach critical lekking or nesting grounds. However,the avoidance of high-quality habitat areas and <br /> planned reclamation efforts are designed to minimize long-term disruption. <br /> • Cumulative Effects of Land Use: The cumulative impacts of mining, grazing, and other land uses in the re- <br /> gion could lead to gradual habitat degradation. Although the West Side Placer project itself avoids high-qual- <br /> ity habitat,the combined effects of historical and current land use in Moffat County, including energy devel- <br /> opment and agriculture, could contribute to the overall decline of Sage-Grouse habitat. Ranching and grazing <br /> activities, in particular, may increase habitat pressures when combined with mining activities,though these <br /> are mitigated through responsible land management practices. <br /> • Long-Term Habitat Recovery: The project's reclamation plan includes restoring the mined land to rangeland <br /> and wildlife habitat,which may help mitigate some of the cumulative impacts. Proper reclamation, including <br /> reseeding with native plant species,will help support Sage-Grouse and other wildlife in the long term. The <br /> cumulative effects will depend on the success of these reclamation efforts,particularly in restoring functional <br /> 13 <br /> HARDROCK/METAL MINING REGULAR(112)APPLICATION Au Pt Industries LLC I PO Box 1424-Edwards,Colorado 81632 1970 306 1 784 <br />