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CHAPTERFOUR Responses ro Pu61ic and Ageney Comments <br />• Letter and <br />Comment No. Response <br />5-2.3 The Wildlife Mitigation Plan (Appendix I), which is part of the Agency <br />Preferred Altemative, includes several types of habitat improvements <br />which would be used. They include supplemental seeding of forbs <br />desirable for sage grouse, seeding or planting of sage brush nursery stock to <br />establish sagebrush cover, and mechanical brush control of 300 acres at a <br />site or sites to be determined by the CDOW. Weed control would use spot <br />spraying on the ground and no aerial spraying. <br />5-2.4 Refer to response to Comment F-I.1. The Agency Preferred Alternative <br />includes netting of the ponds. <br />5-2.5 Standard BLM timing and occupancy buffers would be imposed. These <br />timing and occupancy buffers ensure compliance with the regulations set <br />forth under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other applicable wildlife <br />laws. In addition to the timing and occupancy buffers, the BLM requires <br />additional nest surveys prior to the development of any mining panel or <br />section of the pipeline corridor. Identification of active nests prior to <br />development would require notification of and consultation with the BLM. <br />The avoidance of higher density stands of pinyon juniper and the <br />protection of ponderosa pine stands would further reduce the negative <br />impact of the project on raptors. <br />5-2.6 As part of the Agency Preferred Alternative, American Soda would <br />develop an educational program for employees that includes information on <br />wildlife laws and to develop an effective disciplinary policy for dealing <br />witlt infractions of wildlife laws, including intentional hazassment of <br />wildlife. American Soda would also prohibit employees from carrying <br />firearms on the job sites in order to reduce the opportunity for illegal <br />hunting. <br />LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AGENCIES <br />Mesa County Economic Development Council <br />L-1 The comment is acknowledged. <br />Town of Parachute Administration <br />L-2 The comment is acknowledged. <br />Rio Blanco County Department of Development <br />L-3.1 Published hydrogeologic and groundwater chemistry data indicate that <br />groundwater quality at a given location within the Piceance Basin is very <br />site specific and is dependent upon several factors including residence time <br />. of groundwater in the aquifer, aquifer materials and vertical gradients <br />causing potential leakage (mixing of groundwater) from one aquifer to <br />4-19 <br />