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Mr. Mitlita' Ba~lay Dcciam oJ'Mvierals and ~~, Jrvwary 18, 1999 Pate 5 Sampre ade/uacy ralarlatimcs for ~rzdy plmrt dazsiry •reere nor dskal nr detail, aldxsegh it 7eould appear tlnt tle sample adegttacy at the 90% lete(rrrry not hate ~ adrieurl for.serzral oJdx srvrtplel types. This is not muiderat to lx a signrfrrrmt flare, since the vmly plmrr suaess stmrclrml is not basal a: pre-mreclrua or referert~ area mrrpxrisvx In gareral, data presortel is suffuiau to dazor~rt tJx t)xrracreristia of dx pre-mrr plmu mrvixatities and tlx mrtPzral~ility of tlx affecrel and ~~ mrnruorities. The &asic toter, praltstiWt> and xettdv plant ~~ry data were supp(artaual by excellertt phoros, and graphs, azdielmg •cery irtfomuaize graphs illtatrating relatrte rarer and species deuity fit' life form for urdr of the affata7 and mfervtrp mrprumaties. Tlsis suppleneual v fam>aboT finrlxr doama~u tlx cvrtpmabrlrry of the affa7el zegetatrctn types and associate) external refererrP areas. For these mrcmvzs, resampling of the atgetatuvz types Joraeliwti adeluacyxrtu not ma, call not le rvjuiral The t-values used were at 90 percent confidence (alpha = 0.1) with the assumption of uni- directional concern (i.e. one-tailed t-values). This had been the approach used in reclamation monitoring for recent years at Seneca II and II-W, and was vansferred to this work during our early project design development. Inasmuch as the concern is one-directional (i.e. the critical evaluation is whether the mean for the affetted area is less than that of the proposed reference azea), it is a problem appropriately addressed with one-tailed statistics. Comment 15 - On figure 10-9: "Relatite Cuter by Lifefmnt'; it appeirrs then narice perermia! grasses arere rat npresvuel irr Jx nramtrtirt bncsb external nJettryue areas. Hot¢ecer, Table IOB-2 nrduates Jaat rtatize pervmial i- _ grasses cnrtprisa119% relatrze mterwrifiat this cvrnrnarirv. /f dcerref appropriate, please reriue figure 10.9. J~ The graph on Figure ]0-9, Relative Cover by Lifeform, has been revised to correctly represent the native perennial grasses component. 2.04.11 FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES INFORMATION Comment 16 - As pan of Jx pemtir reuisiar pnxess, tle Ausim of Mrirerals and Geatogy ctrnniruves with ocher app)ual~e state and feleral rcgulaarry ag9uies. 71,e U. S. Fub and Wildlife Servrre reuaerasl pertinent sctticvxs of thzs applirat~on package. Please sce attaded letter five U. S. Fish and lK/r/dlife Serum datet GYmEer 19,1998. In swrortary, tlxy fxrte detemmtel thru raptor and nz<ary otl~r anirrwl nrrteys and protectaan rrmxueres appear adaluaze. Hourte , tIx Sen~cr Eelieres tlzzt Eamnl tardy ~Bufo lvmas l~mnsJ cardd osurr rn tlx profit rare. 71~ b~renl wxd is listgi as endmrgzrsl by tlx State q~Colorado ran is a Faaeral rmrdrlate spexies. 7Yx Sennce rttvrvrtauls tlxu SCC' surrey jot bo>eal tmd tadpoles in jarnal or slow asnter area as earl! as adulu aroroxl rlx br~ p~ra' and rapYnirar cnmdors. Please prvtaae a respunse to rlx attrul~llette ,and make mry naessary updates to Tabs 11 aruf 23. The Seneca II-W South extension azea is within the recently expanded known range of the Boreal ~. Toad ~Bufo Fortes b~mrc<J, a State of Colorado endangered species, and candidate for Federal listing. ~~ r - Based on available information on habitat preferences for this species, the potential for species occurrence within the proposed mine azea is low. In order, however, to verify the presence or absence of boreal toads in the Seneca II-W South area, a biologist will survey appropriate habitats ~.. for this species during the 1999 breeding season (May-July). Prior to the survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be contacted for the mos< current information on boreal toad identification, - habitat use, and survey protocol. Survey results will be provided to the DMG and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following completion of the field surveys and data analysis. If the surveys indicate the presence of boreal toads, SCC will work with the DMG and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop and implement appropriate protection and mitigation measures.