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• Fish and Wildlife Several mitigation measures will be undertaken by the applicant to reduce the impact of the mining operation on resident wildlife populations. In addition to administrative censure of wildlife harrassment, these measures include: suppression of fires, mechanical treatment of approximately 50 acres yearly during this permit term to increase forage availability to bid; game, the application of nitrogen fertilizer on approximately 50 acres yearly to increase shrub growth, the reestablishment of stock watering ponds to replace those destroyed during mining, the placement of raptor perches on reseeded rangeland areas, and the construction of powerlines so as to prevent raptor electrocution. Additionally, the applicant will conduct the following wildlife monitoring: monitoring of deer and elk to determine the success of forage improvement and reestablishment, and monitoring concerning the extent of continued use of reclaimed and treated areas. Elk calving surveys will be conducted to determine a use pattern of the permit and adjacent area. Raptor nesting surveys will be conducted to obtain nesting data and to evalu+ate the mining effects on raptors during this permit term. Appropriate seeding mixtures including sagebrush and proper planting patterns should ensure the return of sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse to the mine area. Because of the low populations of blue grouse in the area, mining is expected to have little or no effect on [he population of this species. Since the active and inactive golden eagle nests are well outside the proposed permit area, little or no impact is expected on this species. • Threatened and Endangered Species • No adverse impacts are expected on any threatened or endangered species. There is no critical habitat for the bald eagle, greater sandhill crane, and peregrine falcon on the mine site. However, a prairie falcon nest was located by the USFWS within a quarter of a mile of the permit boundary (southeast corner). It is unlikely that mining operations will encroach this area during this permit term. A buffer zone was delineated in TSN R90W, which included parts of sections 4, 5, 8, and 9, to protect this nest (USFWS Memorandum, August 23, 1982). No prairie dog towns are located on the wine plan or adjacent area, and consequently no black-footed ferrets should be located in the area. None of the three threatened or endangered plant species which could be found on the mine site have been located there. -15-