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State Reg. The potential for sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse habitat was esti- . .mated to be low on the permit area based on the Wildlife Baseline Report (Tab I I ). To more fully evaluate the use or none-use of the area by sage and sharp-tailed grouse, additional information is needed. A monitoring program in cooperation with CDOW and MLR will be developed to assess the situation on the site. The southern portion of the permit area is the only area that may provide -the habitat requirements for these two species. Sagebrush has established very well on areas topsoiled at Seneca II and thus potential habitat is developing. Mule deer will experience short-term negative impacts during mining activities by the removal of habitat used for winter range. The mining sequence will disturb only parts of this habitat and the overall distur- bance will occur over a number of years. Reclamation efforts will restore the important components of the deer habitat (i.e. the shrub community) and add to the' overall sttvctural diversity of the habitat by increasing edge and adding a greater herbaceous component. The long- . term impacts will be mitigated by the reestablishment of shrubby com- munities through reclamation efforts and natural succession. In summary, the critical wildlife uses of the permit area prior to mining will be reestablished. Indeed, habitat diversity will be increased by introduction of an herbaceous community. Wildlife Protection Procedures. A. Temporary Cessation. Where temporary cessation of mining occurs, _ highwalls will be reduced to allow for the safety of wildlife. Also, ramps built on the highwall side of the pit will be left to allow ease of migra- tion and access. B. Threatened, Endangered, or Protected Plants and Animals. Baseline studies have not revealed any threatened, endangered, or protected plants. 14-10 Revised 5-27-81