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,,. ante alas <br />• • <br /> <br />16. The Buffer Zone contains one of only zo xeric tall <br />grass prairies in the wozld. Because the area has not been <br />grazed by livestock or otherwise disturbed for many years, it has <br />rem:sined in its natural state. <br />17. The Buffer Zone supports an array of wildlife species. <br />The xeric tall grass prairie supports two bird species - the <br />logcterhead shrike and the Baird's sparrow - that are candidates <br />for listing under the ESA and are protected under the Migratory <br />Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. ~ 703 g>s sea_ <br />18. The Rock Creek drainage contains one of the two largest <br />known populations of Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus <br />huds<xiius preblei). On May 13, 1998, the United States Fish and <br />Wild:'_ife Service (FWS) listed the mouse as a threatened species <br />~ under the ESA. 63 Fed. Reg. 26517 (May 13, 1998). <br />19_ The 9reble's meadow jumping mouse's habitat is <br />primarily riparian corridors of small intermittent and perennial <br />streams_ The mouse depends on the availability of food resources <br />for the buildup of fat reserves for winter hibernation. Food <br />resources for the species have been diminished due to grazing, <br />farmi~ig, and human development. The Rock Creek drainage contains <br />one of- the world's only stable, viable and self-sustaining <br />populations. , <br />z0. If the Proposed Mining Area within the Buffer Zone is <br />strip-mined as planned, the area's unique habitats will be <br />destroyed. Strip-mining threatens the hydrologic conditions that <br />support the streams, seegs, and drainages originating at Rocky <br />Sewv~d Amrndod Complaint <br />6 <br />