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<br />' Perching/song birds occupy the entire area and may be <br />disturbed by the mining activities; however, the area of <br />' influence is relatively small and should have little impact on <br />these birds. <br />' Small burrowing mammals may be displaced if their burrows are <br />within the operation and maintenance zone of the road. These <br />species may be disturbed if they are located near the mine <br />portals and work area. <br />Other species may be encountered along the haul route and some <br />road kills may occur. As a result of the steep grade and <br />' sharp curves, traffic on the access roadway will move quite <br />slowly. Even the most confused and slow moving species should <br />be a61e to move out of the path of the oncoming haul trucks. <br />The increase in traffic on state and county roads caused by <br />mining activities will be insignificant to the total vehicle <br />useage. The truck drivers will be informed as to the need to <br />be concerned with wildlife encounters. <br />The overall impact of the proposed operation on wildlife is <br /> expected to 6e minor. Species occupying the work areas may be <br />' displaced <br />mine and to other suitable sites. others will remain <br />tolerate encounters, and a few maybe last. near the <br />Displaced <br /> organisms may also cause ecological deaths since the ad_;acent <br /> habitats may not support the increased numbers. <br />' <br /> An assess ment from the Colorado Division of Wildlife was sent <br /> under sep arate cover during the review process of the original <br />' application. See Applicant's letter to MLRD dated 24 June <br />1986. <br />' Climate <br />' The climate is characterized by long winters with considerable <br />snowfall and summers are generally quite cool above 9,Uti~~ ft. <br />Thunderstorms are common in the summer and at times rainstorms <br />' may last for several days. <br />Precipitation in the La Plata Mountains amounts to at least 30 <br />to 5U inches, annually. Two thirds of this falls as snow. At <br />' the higher elevations winter snowfall ranges from 250 to 30U <br />inches. <br />Temperatures are in the range of 40 to 75 degrees F in the <br />summer months and may range to zero and lower in the winter. <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br />