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Seasonal Use <br />,._~ With the exception of bats, the mammals species encountered during the site inspection <br />or that potentially occur on-site are expected to be year-round residents or users of the <br />site. The carnivore and ungulate species are not restricted to this site and tend to have <br />relatively large home ranges (up to several square miles). The majority of rodent and <br />insectivore species can be expected to reside on-site throughout the year, though many <br />may hibernate during the cold months. Avian species may be year-round, temporary <br />migrants, or summer residents of the site. Year-round residents would include waterfowl, <br />raptors, galliaaceous birds, pigeons, owls, and woodpeckers. The majority of the <br />shorebirds and passerines would use the site during the spring, summer, and fall for <br />feeding or resting during migration. Amphibian and reptile species of the site are year- <br />round residents. <br />Threatened and Endangered Species and Critical Habitat <br />Potemial habitat for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (7.apus hudsonius preblei), and <br />Ute ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) are present on the site. Ute ladies'- <br />tresses orchid surveys conducted in 1999 and 2004 did not find the orchid present. <br />Another orchid survey will be conducted in the summer of 2006. Preble's <br />disqualifications were obtained from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999 and 2004. <br />An update to the mouse disqualification was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service in June 2006. (See attached USFWS correspondence}. <br />Project Effects to Wildlife <br />Based on ow on-site investigation, one clump of cottonwood trees that represented <br />wildlife habitat of value was identified on the extension site. Approximately 15 mature <br />cottonwood trees with little or no recruitment are located along the north boundary of the <br />site. Approximately one-third of the cottonwood trees are senescent. This being the case, <br />there will come a time when the mature cottonwood trees are gone and the overstory <br />structure of the trees will be lost. Mitigation for removal of the tree clump could, in the <br />long term, be of great benefit in maintaining wildlife habitat on the site. Planting <br />cottonwoods of varying ages throughout the site as part of the concurrent reclamation <br />would provide replacement trees for the mature and senescent cottonwoods, and enhance <br />the existing habitat through development of an age stratified vegetation community. <br />According to the mineral extraction plan for the NCCI Pit #1 extension area, noise and air <br />emissions during mining will cause a temporary disturbance to wildlife. Species such as <br />raccoons, coyotes, beaver, deer, and raptors will continue to use the site itself when <br />operations are not active and during contemporaneous reclamation. Bird species will use <br />the periphery of the site and the site itself opportunistically, if prey or food species are <br />present. <br />51 <br />