GENERAL31182

• Permit No: M1999002
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 1/19/1999
• Doc Name: DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CHAPTER 4
• From: STEIGERS CORP
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

CNAPTERFOUR Environmental consequences ,
that would be substantially less effective in providing thermal and hiding cover, th~:reby
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After mining of a panel has ended, the disturbed azeas would be reclaimed by relilacement of
stockpiled topsoil, prepazation of a seedbed by disking, and seeding of grasses azid other species. ,
Example seed mixtures in the Soil Conservation, Erosion and Sediment Control, Reclamation,
and Revegetation Plan prepazed for the Yankee Gulch project (Water and Earth 'technologies,
Inc. and Habitat Management, Inc. 1998) include shrub species used by deer as 25 to 30 percent
of the seed mixture. Proposed seed mixtures have not been defined, and may var/ depending on
reclamation goals. Seeding shrubs at the same time as grasses may result in poor establishment
of shrubs, which take longer to establish and may have trouble competing with the grasses. '
BLM is requiring American Soda to prepaze both a revegetation plan and a wildlife habitat
mitigation plan, which would specify seed mixtures and establishment techniques. The plans
will be geazed towazd successful reestablishment of key habitat components. Di:;turbed azeas in
mine panels should provide deer forage in 5 to 10 yeazs after reclamation, which would continue
to increase with time. Herbaceous forage would be available more quickly than ~~voody forage, '
which may take a considerably longer time especially if it is browsed during establishment.
However, portions of some reclaimed mine panels may have little use during mine operation, due
to displacement of deer from azeas neaz permanent facilities and roads. Losses of thermal cover ,
and hiding cover would take much longer to replace, perhaps 50 yeazs or more.
Displacement. Indirect habitat loss would occur through disturbance caused by increased

human activity, equipment operation, vehicle traffic and noise. Deer would tend to avoid or ,
move away from these types of disturbances, which would result in decreased use of habitat neaz
the disturbance (displacement). Numerous reseazchers (Lyon 1985, Ward 1976, Wazd et al.
1980, Rost and Bailey 1979) have documented displacement of big game (mule <ieer and elk).
The distance big game move away from these activities ranges from 656 feet (200 meters) for
deer to well over 0.5 mile (800 meters) for elk. The actual distance big game is displaced is '
related to topography, presence of hiding cover, intensity of disturbance, and habituation.
Factors affecting and generally elevating avoidance of roads include slower vehicle speed,
vehicles that stop, and traffic associated with out-of-vehicle activity. Deer may tie displaced onto '
adjacent areas or may subsist at reduced fitness levels. The severity and longevity of these
impacts and their influence on the subsequent fitness of local deer populations (i.e., winter

survival and deer production) would be variable and would depend on site-specific '
environmental conditions, as well as measures instituted by the project (e.g., site management
and the pattern and extent of cover modification).
Di
l
i
sp
acement
mpacts were estimated by using an average displacement distance of 1/8 mile
from permanent facilities, roads, and mining panels within the Piceance Site. The: Piceance Site
would employ three shifts, operating 24 hours per day. The 1/8 mile displacement zone is wider
than the spacing between mining panels, and indicates displacement of mule deer from portions
of the unmined panels and the slopes and valleys between the mining panels. The estimated

azeas of displacement for each 5-yeaz period associated with mine panel development aze shown ,
in Figures 4.8-1 a through 1 f, and aze shown below:
4-46 Wildlife '