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• to be mined, partial alteration of all soil horirans, pcrcnt <br />material, and suil,characteristics which hive developed over <br />long periods of geologic time, could not be avoided. Present <br />soil biota ar.d soil Forming processes would be destroyed.' As <br />and end result after mining, ne~.a soils would be formed with <br />characteristics unlike those existing prior to mining. Soil ' <br />erosion that takes place before topsoiled spoils are stabilir.ed <br />would be unavoidable. <br />The total removal of existing vegetation will be unavoidable <br />if this operation continues. Existing vegetation would be per- <br />manently destroyed. <br />A permanent loss of [he existing ecos}'stem would result from <br />• the proposed mining operation. F'.abitat components and the <br />faunal species composition ratios would not be expected to <br />return [o their present status. The impact to small mauls, <br />reptiles, amphibians, young birds, and invertebrates that are <br />not mobile enough to escape from the mining progression could <br />not be mitigated without trapping and transporting animals <br />out of the mine area. Displacement of [he more mobile species <br />of wildlife, such as deer, elk, coyote, fox, and fledged birds <br />from the mining area could not be mitigated. All or most of <br />these relocated animals would probably be lost. Specifically, <br />,there would also be a loss of potential habitat for the pere- <br />Brine falcon and greater sandhill crane due to human activities. <br />The on-going hirhwall would create an unavoidable impact on <br />• norr,~al animal movements. Increased human activity and noise <br />