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Fall and spring migration of mule deer, antelope, and elk <br />occur at the mine site. Elk (Cervus elaphus) numbers have <br />increased sinced the record snow fall of 1985, when large <br />numbers of elk migrated into this section of Rio Blanco <br />County. Preliminary environmental impact data for this mine <br />did not consider this to be critical elk winter range. The <br />conveyor arrangement at the mine directly bisects the <br />natural drainages and migration corridors for biq game. All <br />big game therefore, must cross over or under the beltline <br />within this area, and hence the placement of passage <br />structures. <br />The conveyor structure at the Deserado Mine is 1.7 meters <br />wide, with a corrugated metal cover placed over the top and <br />has vertical support legs supports placed 6.1 meters apart. <br />The conveyor emits a constant noise reading of 64 decibels <br />at 1 meter, 59 decibels at 6 meters, and 55 decibels at 12 <br />meters. Conveyor noise levels were 13 decibels lower at <br />this mine compared to Plateau Mining Company's Star Point <br />mine in Wattis Canyon, Utah ( Dalton 1984). <br />Transect stations with topographic features can be found <br />in Table 6. Also listed is the distance between each over <br />and underpass structure. Dominant native plant communities <br />include such species as big sagebrush (Artemisia <br />tridentata), western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), and <br />juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). <br />METHODS <br />A total of 20 transects were run during the fall and <br />spring of 1988 through 1991. Snow accumulations over the <br />past three years have been below normal and comparatively <br />dry. All crossings were monitored whether they were greater <br />than 3 meters in height or not, in order to determine any <br />areas of avoidance. Track counts were identified as to <br />species and direction of travel and total numbers were <br />tallied using 2 - U.S. Government Type Tally Meters. Field <br />tracks were identified using Peterson Field Guide to Animal <br />Tracks (Murie, 1954). Track count surveys followed <br />guidelines in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Handbook <br />of Biological Techniques (1982). <br />Conveyor noise levels were measured with a Gen Rad Inc., <br />Permissible Sound Level Meter, Type 1565-b. Line transects <br />were run along a South to North route that followed the <br />beltline orientation. A conveyor access road was used which <br />is located on the east side of the structure and follows the <br />beltline along the majority of its length. <br />