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~' ~ mines which could - sin bat habitat in the Crystal tek area at this time <br />(White and Sares Navo and Piaggio 1996). <br />Mining activities should not occur on the rocky outcroppings and cliffs to <br />protect potential nesting of the peregrine falcon. <br />Although this BSologic al Evaluation covers the TE69 apooiee poeelbly <br />inhabiting the area, site specific surveys for plants and animals will <br />need to be done at each of the proposed claims by a biologist, The <br />programatic 8E will be referenced at that time and used as a guideline <br />for the field survey. This action will assist in preventing impacts <br />on some species (rare plant populations, goshawk nests, etc.). <br />Additional mitigation measures may be needed after this work, such as: <br />* Timing restrictions <br />* Avoidance of a plant species by moving the claim location. <br />CONFLICT DETERMINATION <br />The accumulation of mining activities in the Crystal Creek area will have a <br />direct effect on the pygmy nuthatch. The pygmy nuthatch resides in the area <br />and is dependent on the ponderosa and Douglas-fir trees. Forest vegetation <br />removal will also affect the flammulated owl, three-toed woodpecker and <br />northern goshawk by removing nesting and foraging habitat. The golden-crowned <br />kinglet may be affected by the loss of winter cover and foraging. <br />Because many of the mining claims in the Crystal Creek area are small and <br />nonmechanized, much of the forest cover will remain. Similar habitat is found <br />in the areas surrounding the 6-7 square miles addressed in this BE. This will <br />reduce the effects on these species. Due to the abundance of canopy cover, <br />plus the significant amount of understory tree species, it is Likely that the <br />claim openings wil not create a significant loss of tree cover. <br />The Crystal Creek mines may adversely impact individual pygmy nuthatch, <br />flammulated owl, three-toed woodpecker, golden-crowned kinglet and northern <br />goshawk but this proposal is not expected to lead to a trend toward Federal <br />listing or in a loss of species viability rangewide. <br />SIGNIFICANCE/RISK ASSESMENT <br />Medium. <br />