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• In preparation of the mitigation plan, the <br /> following objectives were identified (see wildlife resources <br /> information): <br /> 1. To enhance sage grouse nesting and brooding <br /> habitat, by encouraging a moderate stand of sagebrush <br /> with an abundance of forbs and grasses. <br /> 2. To enhance pronghorn and mule deer populations, <br /> by encouraging the expansion of palatable shrubs and <br /> forbs. <br /> 3. To enhance other faunal populations, by encouraging <br /> an increase in plant biomass and diversity. <br /> 4. To minimize disturbances from mining activities, <br /> in order to avoid losses which might accrue out of <br /> proportion to habitat loss. <br /> It is also recognized that: <br /> 1. The plant community within the lease area has <br /> been degraded as a result of past livestock grazing. <br /> 2. The current livestock grazing rates (4.4A/AUM from <br />• d <br />h <br />t <br />t <br />i <br />l <br />hi <br />h <br /> ve <br />an <br />t <br />rea <br />en <br />o <br />May 15 to July 1) are relat <br />y <br />g <br /> negate any attempts to enhance the vegetation. <br />Wyoming Fuel Company proposes to conduct a <br />wildlife mitigation plan, consisting of 1) creation of a <br />81 -acre (32-ha) ecological study area to the west of pit <br />number 2, 2) a wildlife monitoring program to be conducted <br />throughout the lifetime of the mine, in order to measure the <br />efficacy of mitigation efforts, 3) action to minimize <br />disturbances during the course of mining, and finally, 4) <br />enhancement of wildlife habitat in the reclamation phase. <br />a. Ecological Study Area <br />Wyoming Fuel Company proposes to extend the <br />perimeter fence of pit #2 westward to join the fence <br />along the western boundary of the lease area, thereby <br />excluding livestock from a 81-acre area on the lease <br />for the duration of mining activities. A three-strand <br />• barbed-wire fence will be used for the purpose, thereby <br />-13- <br />