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• E. Irreversible :end Irre[riovnblc Corait~:rnt of Rcronrcc~ <br />'fhc major irreversible and irretri.eva6lc cot.ir.i[mrnt of ;^incra]. <br />rusuurces by the proposed minim; activities is the proeic~tion <br />of coal for consumption, including loss in mining, of about <br />9 million tons of coal in the period of 1:30-SG. <br />Local, very smell changes in climate or [he atmosplteric <br />resources i:ould result from the redistribution of the surface <br />material at the mine. Char.~es in contours and surface c~arac- <br />teristics would irreversibly alter the wind field and surface <br />heating of the air. The air quality degradation vaould :_ <br />reversible if reclamation is complete. <br />Return to a self-sustaining ecosystem should be possible, con- <br />siderino e>isting climatic conditions, and the requirement <br />to replace topsoil, but predcctivit; is projected to be ten <br />percent less. Hocaever, existing soil profiles and vegetative <br />ecosystems would be irretrievably lost. <br />Wildlife resources that might be irretrievably lost include <br />individual animals and habitats chat are destroyed. Animals <br />and plants that would have reproduced in the affected habitats <br />during the life of the mine might also be irretrievably lost. <br />Sildlife losses might be irreversible if the species and <br />habitat are impacted to the point that their ability to <br />reproduce is seriously unpaired. Tlie annual furage production <br /> which the area could have produced will be lost during tine <br /> time that mining and reclamation takes place. Fertiliser <br />• ~ utili-red in the reclamation program will also Ise itrctricval~ly <br />1G0 <br />>.. <br />