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• Disturbance of Soils. No topsoil was ever salvaged from surface <br />facility construction activities at the Peacock Coal Mine. Disturbance <br />of the area for surface facilities and portal face-ups, although only a <br />small area, will have a direct impact on animals with subterranean <br />habitat requirements. This impact, however, will be minimal due to the <br />small amount of area disturbed and will be temporary as ground dwelling <br />wildlife will move back quickly into the area once it is reclaimed. <br />Because of the lack of cover in the area affected by surface support <br />facilities, the disturbance of any ground nesting avifauna will be <br />minimal and most likely absent. <br />Destruction of Vegetation. As stated earlier, the permit area has been <br />affected by the past surface effects of previous underground operations. <br />Although disturbance of the vegetation within the surface facilities <br />area has taken place, the planned reclamation activities should lead to <br />an increase in the value of the post-mining vegetation for wildlife. As <br />stated in Section 2.05.4, the reclamation plan of Sunbelt is designed to <br />• restore the disturbed areas to a condition at least equal or better than <br />the existing land condition. In doing so, increased availability of <br />food supplies will be realized and subsequent wildlife populations will <br />undoubtedly increase. <br />Post-Mining Topography. No additional major disturbance to the area to <br />the pre-mining topography is planned. During continued mining, the <br />limited topographical disturbance will probably only have minor impacts <br />on any wildlife in the area because of the limited acreages of <br />disturbance involved. Following mining, the area will be restored to a <br />topography as shown on the Post-Mining Topography Map (Map 9). <br />Alteration of Natural Shelters. Because the amounts of disturbance <br />associated with the planned mining are relatively minor, negative <br />impacts on any wildlife shelters should be only minimal and temporary. <br />During mining, small mammals and larger game tend to move away from the <br />areas affected by the surface operations and facilities. Some <br /> <br />2.05-42 <br />