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State Reg. r-`__ ` _ <br />• ` '`"'" •'"~JVildlife = Reefamatidn Relationships.• The loss of •habitat and the short- <br />" term •n'egative impacts on wildlife are inevitcble~when a major distur- <br />bance such as the Seneca II surface mining operation takes place. Re- <br />' ~ ' duction'of~ihe short=teem' impacts•and mitigation of the long-term <br />' ~`' impacts'is~arr important pdrt of the total mitigation plan at the Seneca II <br />site. ,;; r,. ,- *•'." _ . <br />• "~"`'The'Postmining Land Use Plan (Tab l3) details revegetation plans, re- <br />'~° st'ofation or enhancement of wildlife habitat, postmine land use, and how <br />wildlife will be affected by the proposed postmine land uses. Other <br />"'portions'"of"•the permit application that should also be reviewed at this <br />time are ihe•'Negetafion Baseline Report" (Tali 10), Exhibit 10-I "Vege- <br />• lotion Types and Sample Site Locations'; the "WitdlifeBaseline Report" <br />(Tab I I)-and accompanying maps, Exhibit 13-I "Post Mining Vegetation <br />' - Types Map", and Exhibit- 132 "Reclamation Plari". The above mentioned <br />sections of the permit application provide a- total picture of habitat <br />'''before mining, fhe sequence of reclamation; a general idea of the type <br />• - 'and amount ofhabitat at any given time and the habitat available after <br />-. "mining. -''~ =`. , <br />It should be noted during review of the above sections of the permit <br />"application thaf portions of tfie permit area will not be disturbed and <br />"'• -"~ =thus part of fhe Native habitat will remain available to wildlife. Also, <br />' the sequence~of mining will delay for some years the destruction of the <br />- _ •' -affected habitat. Reclamation activitier~,vill begin the process of resto- <br />`- "'' "ration of habitat and the availability of forage on'reclaimed areas will <br />reduce pressure on The remaining habitat in the area. The length and <br />sequence of operations will allow wildlife' to adapt to conditions in the <br />permit area and will allow for plant communities establishing on re- <br />claimed areas to become rnailable'tor wildlife. <br />The woody vegetation types are the most critical habitat components in <br />the permit area. Deer use in the area, particularly during the winter, <br />• and the potential importance of the aspen stands to elk during calving <br />support this. The reestablishment of woody vegetation types is both a <br />costly and rather difficult goal to attain when attempted by human <br />14-7 Revised 5-27-81 <br />