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<br />C - The level area of parcels C-2 and C-3 are utilized for industrial storage of trailers, equipment, <br />etc., and generally have minimal non-irrigated ground cover or aggregate non-vegetated <br />ground cover. The steep slope areas of these two parcels, as well as most of parcel C-1, <br />generally have ground cover consisting on non-irrigated grasses and weedy species.. No <br />mining will occur on these parcels, as they will only be utilized as the Plant Site. When the <br />Plant Site Facilities are removed, it is anticipated the site will be utilized for industrial <br />development. Thus, most of this area has minimal wildlife value at present. There is also a <br />small area of wetlands along the Spring Creek Seep Ditch which won't be disturbed that has <br />some wildlife value. <br />D - This area has good wildlife habitat in the existing extensive stands of cottonwood and willows <br />in the riparian areas along the S. Platter River. The preservation of the existing tree stands <br />in these riparian areas along the S. Platte River will certainly preserve the wildlife environment <br />on this Parcel. The other scattered tree stands and the level ground west of the riparian areas <br />of the S. Platte River have limited wildlife value, particularly where overgrazing has occurred. <br />All ofthis area will be mined and replaced with a large reservoir lake. Thus, while there will <br />be some removal of existing trees that have some wildlife value, this area will eventually <br />benefit waterfowl with a very large water surface and barilc areas that will be precluded from <br />most human interaction. <br />Thus in summary, to quote the Division of Wildlife "the vast majority of the site is poor wildlife <br />habitat. With reasonable mitigation efforts, this mine should not result in serious impacts to wildlife, <br />and in fact there is a great potential for improving wildlife habitat in this area." The plan will have <br />both a short and long term benefit for the wildlife envirorunent. The most_critical wildlife feature of <br />the Parcels, the riparian area along the S. Platte River with extensive tree stands and the major tree <br />stand out of the riparian area on the Parcel A, will be reserved. In the future, created wetlands on <br />Parcels A and B will far surpass the area o the present wet ands on Parcels A and C, and the <br />reservoir area of Parcel D will enhance the environment for waterfowl. <br />2 <br />