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XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br /> Baseline fish and wildlife information is contained in Exhibit 2.04.11-E1 of the permit <br /> application package. One of the proposed post-mining land uses at the PSC is wildlife <br /> habitat. Features of the reclamation plan that are designed for protecting or restoring <br /> wildlife habitat are: <br /> o Using beneficial native plants in the reclamation seed mix, <br /> o Establishing shrubs for cover and roosting areas in the reclaimed areas, <br /> o Not disturbing lands in buffer zones in bottomlands, and <br /> o Preserving or restoring surface water resources. <br /> PSC developed a fish and wildlife mitigation plan in consultation with the Colorado <br /> Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The plan is provided in Section 2.05.6(2) of the <br /> permit application. The plan contains the following fish and wildlife protection <br /> measures. <br /> Wildlife protection measures in operations include: <br /> o Minimizing mining-related disturbance, <br /> o Designing and constructing powerlines in accordance with REA Bulletin 61- <br /> 10, <br /> o Providing passages for big game underneath conveyors, <br /> o Posting speed limits on all mine roads, <br /> o Fencing electrical substations and other potentially hazardous installations, <br /> o Preventing, controlling, and suppressing range, forest, and coal fires, and <br /> o Properly handling and storing mine waste materials. <br /> General wildlife protection measures require PSC to promptly report to the Division <br /> any discovery in the permit area of: <br /> o Any occurrence of, or critical habitat of, an animal or plant species that is <br /> threatened, endangered or is proposed for listing as threatened or endangered <br /> by CPW or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <br /> o Any raptor or nest of a raptor that was not previously reported by PSC. <br /> o Big game protection measures require PSC to: <br /> o Post a vehicle speed limit of 25 miles per hour on access roads and haul roads, <br /> o Advise employees of the importance and need for adhering to the speed limit <br /> for protecting big game and for safety, and <br /> o Schedule employee shift changes as much as possible so that big game/vehicle <br /> collisions are reduced during the four hour time period after sunset. <br /> A protection measure for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and greater sage-grouse <br /> requires PSC to minimize impacts to these grouse that are known to exist or are <br /> discovered within one mile of the disturbance area by locating access roads for minimal <br /> impacts to known leks, if possible. <br /> Page 22 of 27 <br />