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Section 779,2p (c) Continued. • Foidel Creek and Middle Creek, but experience indicates that affects will not be disruptive. Th_ two successful golden eagle nests and one American kestrel nest (June, 1979) indicate that current mining operations have had little negative effect on cliff nesting success, at least for these species. Since distances between cliff nest sites and mining activities will not change significantly from those th~.t presently exist, it is not expected that nesting by golden eagles or other cliff nesting raptors will be affected. Mine expansion will result in the loss of some hinting habitat, for the larger raptors (buteos, marsh hawks, and eagles). Sagebrush habitat in the northeast portion of the permit area is slated to be mined and will be lost as a hunting area for these species. Threatened or Endangered Wildlife Species Considering the unliklihood that any state or federally listed • threatened or endangered animal species would utilize habitats present on the permit area, it is unlikely that any impact will occur with respect to those threatened and endangered species which are known to occur in the region. Aquatic Biology The primary impact to straam biota and habitat due to unmitigated surface mining activities is an increase in sedimen~ deposition in streams due to erosion of newly exposed mined areas. Sediment build-up in streams up stream from sediment ponds reduces habitat variability and eliminates habitat suitable for groups such as mayflies, caddisflies, blackflies, and others. Increased sediment build-up in streams tends to give the selective advantage to those burrowing macroinvertebrates such as tub ificid worms and some species of chironomid midges which prefer soft silty bottoms. . Reduced diversity and predominance of a fPw taxa create an unbalanced and unstable aquatic macroinverte~tate community. 779-246