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CNAPTERTHREE Enu~ronmenta~ conseuuences • 3.7.2 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts The Agency Preferred Alternative would unavoidably require removal of existing vegetation from development azeas during construction and operation of the facilities. Losses of vegetation would be short- or long-term, depending on the nature and use of the facilities and the time to achieve adequate revegetation. 3.8 WILDLIFE 3.8.1 Direct and Indirect Impacts Piceance Site Mule Deer Direct Habitat Loss. Causes of direct and induect impacts to mule deer under the Agency Preferred Alternative would be the same as described under the Proposed Action, but the effects would be reduced. Habitat value would be degraded; but based on the mitigative actions identified in the Wildlife Mitigation Plan (Section 2.3.5 and Appendix I), the degradation of habitat would be greatly reduced through on-site and off-site actions. Under the Agency Preferred Alternative, direct habitat loss would be less than that described for the Proposed Action. On-site mitigation in the Wildlife Mitigation Plan is designed to reduce the amount of habitat (forage, thermal and escape cover) impacted and to re-establish plant species removed during mining operations. The removal of higher density stands of pinyon juniper would be avoided to the maxhnum extent possible. By retaining as much of this critical habitat component as possible, the amount of thermal and escape cover eliminated from each mine panel would be reduced. This preservation of thermal cover would allow for some immediate use of each mine panel once it is retired. When a mine panel is retired, re-seeding of disturbed areas using primarily native plant species would occur. If re-seeding does not achieve the goal of the Wildlife Mitigation Plan, actual transplanting of established native plants would occur. Off-site mitigation would further reduce the impacts of mining activities on mule deer. American Soda would perform habitat improvement at a 1:2.5 ratio (2.5 off-site acres improved for each on-site acre disturbed). Improvements could include clearing and thinning, burning, plantings, fertilization, or bottomland conversion. By using Utese techniques, mule deer, which traditionally use the Piceance Site, would still be able to locate nearby azeas capable of providing the necessary habitat requirements. Displacement. Indirect habitat loss resulting from disturbance and displacement caused by the increase in human activity, equipment operation, vehicle traffic and noise would be less under the Agency Preferred Alternative than that described for the Proposed Action. Displacement would still occur; but, with the retention of higher density stands of pinyon juniper woodlands, more individuals would be expected to habituate and fewer individuals would be displaced. Wildlife 3-11