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- Total perennial warm season grass species > 2% relative cover; <br />- Total perennial forbs and suffrutescent species > 0.5% relative cover, <br />- No reclaimed area shall have a single species that represents greater than 70% relative <br />cover. <br />The Division finds that the proposed standazd will satisfy the species diversity and seasonal variety <br />requirements of Rules 4.15.8(5) and 4.15.8(6). <br />IX. Protection of Fish. Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br />Fish and Wildlife Resources Information is contained in Section 2.04.11 of Tab 11, Volume 3, of the <br />application. The Fish and Wildlife Plan is included within Section 2.05.6(2), Tab 16, Volume 5, of <br />the application. <br />Portions of the permit azea north of the Colorado River provide severe winter range for a portion of the <br />Roan Creek mule deer herd. The western third of the permit azea makes up a small part of the Little <br />Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area. Neither the mule deer nor the wild horse population will be impacted <br />significantly by mining, due to the limited extent of additional surface disturbance proposed. Final <br />reclamation as proposed will restore habitat and forage for these species. <br />The canyon walls in the general vicinity of the operation provide potential nesting habitat for raptors, <br />and there is an active peregrine falcon nesting use azea located on the Wildlife Habitat Map (Exhibit <br />2S). The azea used by the peregrines for nesting is along a cliffface in Coal Gulch, neaz the north end <br />of Mount Lincoln. A portion of the cliff face, which has been used in recent years, is within the <br />permit azea. The existing and proposed surface facilities are located along the river and at the lower <br />end of Coal Canyon. The facility azeas are removed by at least 200 yazds from potential raptor nesting <br />azeas, and at least 500 yazds from the cliff face where peregrine nesting has been documented. The <br />presence of Interstate 70 through DeBeque Canyon may already have impacted raptors to some degree. <br />No additional impacts associated with mining activities aze anticipated with respect to raptor nesting. <br />Reclamation of the upper benches of the Coal Canyon refuse disposal azeas reclaimed in 2002 <br />included distribution of surface rock as depicted on Figure 14-4, to enhance habitat for prey species <br />including cottontail rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. The specified rock replacement plan is considered <br />typical for other reclamation azeas, to the extent that suitable rock is available. Rocks were distributed <br />on reclaimed surfaces on the RSRDA slopes and RSRDA soil borrow azea in 2002, and the South Fan <br />slopes in 2000. Few rocks were placed on the reclaimed North Portal facility area due to the lack of <br />available rocks. <br />Riparian habitat along the Colorado River through the permit azea provides nesting cover for mallazd <br />ducks and Canada geese, and the river is used by numerous waterfowl species during spring and fall <br />migrations and during the winter. Willow/tamarisk vegetation along the river in the permit area <br />provides potential habitat for the endangered willow flycatcher. Disturbances to this habitat type were <br />limited to a narrow corridor along the overland conveyor, and the lower mazgins of the unit train <br />loadout. No additional disturbance is proposed within this habitat type, and buffer zones have been <br />established and mazked where existing disturbances are located adjacent to the Colorado River <br />riparian zone. <br />44 <br />