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• disturbed areas will be reclaimed as quickly as possible <br /> to restore the necessary environmental balances. <br /> The disturbance of soils on the mine plan area will <br /> be kept to a minimum through the proper positioning of haul <br /> roads and other mine support facilities. Since the majority <br /> of facilities are already in place, further topsoil <br /> disturbance will be centered predominately in the area of <br /> the actual mining activities. Reclamation, already in <br /> progress on some of the existing mine areas, will continue, <br /> thereby providing habitat for wildlife which vacated the area <br /> during mining. Stripping, storage, and redistribution of <br /> topsoil has direct impact on animals with subterranean habitat <br /> requirements. This impact, however, will be temporary, as <br /> ground-burrowing wildlife quickly move back into newly <br /> reclaimed areas. Ground nesting avifauna are also directly <br /> affected by soil disturbances. Upon reclamation small <br /> mammals will be provided with suitable habitat without any <br />~, serious competitors. The increased number of such small <br /> mammals enhances the opportunities of carnivores and raptors. <br /> The disturbance of vegetation on the proposed <br /> mine areas will be kept to a minimum through the proper <br /> positioning of haul roads and other mine support facilities. <br /> Most new vegetation disturbance within the mine plan area will <br /> occur at the actual mining site. Wyoming Fuel Company's <br /> reclamation plan is designed to restore all disturbed areas <br /> to their pre-mining land uses. <br /> The back-filling and grading requirement s.= <br /> will produce a landscape complete with all present special <br /> topographic features. Approximate original contour, including <br /> drainage patterns, will be restored. The overall topographical <br /> disturbance will therefore have only minor and temporary impacts <br /> on migration routes, wintering areas or related hunting, <br /> feeding, and restoring sites for wildlife. <br /> Adverse effects on wildlife shelters appear to be <br /> only temporary. Natural shelters may be disrupted, but <br />-18- <br />