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4 - 30 <br /> <br />4.3.7 WILDLIFE PLAN <br />Surface disturbance and accompanying wildlife habitat destruction associated witli the <br />mining operations as planned in this permit are of limited aerial extent and not significant to the <br />existing wildlife resources as described in Section 4.3. The total area of direct surface <br />disturbance associated with the mining plan is less than 5 acres. A portion of this area includes <br />a preexisting access road. The primary disturbance to the existing wildlife resources will be <br />through increased human and mechanized activity associated with transit of mine product and <br />the mine work force. Experience through research on the effects of coal mining on wildlife <br />resources in southeastern Montana by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (unpublished) <br />has shown that mining impacts can be positive and that many negative impacts are associated <br />with activity not the direct result of mining, such as road kills and poaching. Existing large game <br />populations have adapted very well to mining activity and certain aspects of mining have actually <br />enhanced wildlife resources due to creation of a more diverse habitat. <br />Minimization of disturbance and adverse impacts plus enhancement of wildlife resources will <br /> <br />~! <br />:;: = <br />4 :''. <br />be implemented under a three part plan including: (1) Protection and control, (2) Resource <br />monitoring, and (3) Reclamation. As stated above, the actual area of disturbance and mining <br />activities will be confined to a relatively small portion of the permit area. The plan as described <br />will concentrate primarily on this area and a zone of influence around this area where visual, <br />auditory impacts will have the greatest influence. <br /> <br />C M•:-~nll..c. <br /> <br />