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compazatively minor significance for big game or other species of high concern to DOW. The saline, <br />fine textured soils will present significant reclamation challenges, however. My recommendation to <br />Jim Stover was that to the extent that deposits of the gravelly soils on colluvial deposits or pediments <br />are disturbed, the salvage of such material should be maximized for use as plant growth medium. <br />There is a stock pond in the planned rail loop/ coal stockpile/ processing plant facility vicinity, which <br />currently provides an important water source for wildlife in the azid landscape. Mine related <br />disturbance and activity will likely impact use of the pond by wildlife, and DOW staff indicated that <br />provision of alternative water sources would be an important mitigation tool for big game and other <br />species. <br />For the conveyor line that would run from the mine portal area down to the processing area, DOW <br />felt there would be a need for a number of wildlife crossings; buried sections preferable to <br />underpasses, and the crossings should be located at natural topographic "funnel" locations or <br />established big game travel corridors. <br />There is the potential for raptor nest sites in the canyon habitat in the vicinity of the proposed portal <br />facilities; thorough inventory will be required and appropriate mitigation measures will need to be <br />developed as applicable. <br />Following the conclusion of the Redcliff site visit, Paul Creeden and Steph Duckett accompanied me <br />on a brief site visit to McClane Canyon and Munger Canyon mines. Neither of them had previously <br />been to the mines, and I felt it would be helpful to them to get an overview of the operations, so they <br />would have a better basis to respond to our periodic requests for comment at permit midterms, <br />renewals, and revisions. They both seemed to think that it was worthwhile. <br />