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n u R It was stated on p. O-1 of o.VII that approximately 25 elk wintered in the area of the refuse pile. This winter residency occurred in the winter of 1979. The 1980 winter indicates how climatic conditions affect wildlife. No elk and very few mule deer have been observed anywhere on Northern's leases during the 1980 winter because snow cover has not been deep enough in the high country to drive the animals onto Northern's leases which occur at lower elevations. The spring after the 1979 winter saw snow accumulations of four feet in the draws at lower elevations while the ground has been virtually bare during most of the 1980 winter. Northern has no data on elk utilization prior to 1979. If the winter of 1981 is more like the winter of 1979, the elk may return. Since half of Phase I of the refuse disposal area was constructed in 1980 with approval of CMLR, only time will tell if the elk will return. Northern believes they will return because the anticipated neaz r term disposal rate is only one or two dump truck loads per week. The habitat enhancement azeas include reclaimed mountain shrub drill sites and roads (see response to 784.23(b)(8)) revegetated with native grasses. Ia northwest Colorado elk have no need for cover that is not already met by stands of Aspen and Mountain Shrub, which occur azound reclaimed drill sites in these habitats on Northern's leases. Again, the problem is not one of adequate cover but of cover which is impenetratable to big game and livestock. The drill roads and sites provide a paztial solution to impene- tratable mountain shrub cover. Colowyo Coal Company has attempted to lure elk away from mining activities by blading remote stands of decadent mountain shrubs to open up the stands and encourage new shrub sprouting. Initially, 1-3 acre azeas were totally bladed. Recently 15 acre stands have been bladed in a mosaic to provide feeding azeas and 0-15