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CNAPTERTHREE Enuironment~l~ Consequences <br />discovered, it would be covered under the standazd BLM raptor nest stipulations (included in the <br />Wildlife Mitigation Plan), which would result in avoidance of adverse impacts. Loss of potential <br />foraging habitat would not have an adverse impact on peregrine falcon foraging activity. Other <br />potential effects to peregrine falcons under the Agency Preferred Alternative would be the same <br />as those described for the Proposed Action. <br />Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod and Dudley Bluffs Twinpod. Impacts to these neatened plant <br />species would be reduced compared with the Proposed Action because the Al;ency Preferred <br />Alternative includes several mitigation measures to protect these species and their habitat <br />(Section 2.2). Existing populations would be protected by not allowing any surface disturbance <br />within 200 feet of the outer edge of the population, by implementation of a monitoring plan, and <br />by re-inventory of unoccupied suitable habitat prior to development of each mine panel. <br />Development activities would be allowed on unoccupied suitable habitat more than 200 feet <br />away from occupied habitat, but reclamation procedures would be designed and implemented to <br />restore suitable habitat. Soil salvage and reconstruction procedures to be used in suitable habitat <br />are described in Sections 4.4 and 5.1.2 of the Reclamation Plan (refer to Appendix H of this Final <br />EIS). <br />With these mitigation measures, the Agency Preferred Alternative should have no adverse effects <br />on Dudley Bluffs bladderpod and Dudley Bluffs twinpod. However, some long-term loss of <br />unoccupied suitable habitat may occur, depending on the relative level of success in <br />reconstructing soils suitable for these species. <br />Other Listed or Candidate Species. Potential effects to other listed or candidate species under <br />the Agency Preferred Alternative would be the same as under the Proposed ?action. <br />Other Special Status Species <br />Northern Goshawk. Impacts to northern goshawks at the Piceance Site woiild be reduced under <br />the Agency Preferred Alternative in comparison to the Proposed Action. American Soda has <br />committed to retaining higher density stands of pinyon juniper woodlands to the extent possible <br />and to performing nest surveys prior to surface-disturbing activities. By retaining these stands of <br />higher density woodlands, goshawk would have suitable habitat available for use after a mine <br />panel has been retired. Project activities neaz active nests would be restricted to protect nesting <br />activities. <br />Black Tern, Long-billed Curlew, Western Snowy Plover, and White-faa;d Ibis. With the <br />netting of the evaporation pond, these birds would not be impacted under the Agency Preferred <br />Alternative. <br />Other Species. The Draft EIS addressed potential effects to reptiles, amphibians, dragon <br />milkvetch, and other special status species. The potential effects to these and other species under <br />the Agency Preferred Alternative would be the same as those described for tl~e Proposed Action. <br /> <br />16 Threatened and Endangered Species <br />