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particular interest. Golden eagle nests are located north, west, and south of the permit <br />area. These birds have been observed hunting over reclaimed lands. Other common raptors <br />observed on reclaimed areas include red-tailed hawks, marsh hawks, and turkey vultures. <br />Thus, the Seneca II permit area provides a variety of habitat for many wildlife species <br />common to northwestern Colorado. Studies and observati ores indicate utilization of the <br />area by big game and other wildlife species is common throughout the year. Exhibit 13-6 <br />illustrates the continuum of available vegetation communities and habitat types from the <br />permit area disturbance boundary to one-half mile out from this boundary. <br />Rostmininc Land Use <br />The revegetation plan has been developed to achieve a primary postmining land use of <br />livestock grazing and a secondary use of wildlife habitat- It will also aid in landform <br />stability and mitigate impacts [o vegetation resourc~rs. Furthermore, this. plan is <br />designed to meet DMC Rules and Regulations that state: "All areas affected by surface <br />coal mining operations shall be restored in a timely manner: (1) to conditions that are <br />capable of supporting the uses which they were capable of supporting before any mining; or <br />(2) to higher or better uses ..." (4.76.1(7),(2). 'white mitigation of impacts to <br />vegetation resources will be facilitated by application of best current technology, <br />limitations are to be expected because of the inherent lengthy successional time frames <br />and ecological characteristics associated with regional native vegetation. <br />Reclaimed areas will be dominated initially with herbaceous vegetation that will benefit <br />livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. After careful consideration of wildlife habitat <br />needs in the area, observations of wildlife use on reclaimed areas, and how the postmine <br />reclaimed landscape and plant communities would integrate with the undisturbed land forms, <br />vegetation communities, and habitat surrounding the permit area, it is estimated this <br />shoultl not result in significant impacts. Again, successional time frames and the <br />required land form stabilization practices play important roles in [he type of vegetation <br />initially established on the reclaimed landscape. The herbaceous vegetation, necessary <br />for quick and long-term stabilization, is highly competitive and will dominate for e <br />considerable period of time. Even in unseeded areas, herbaceous vegetation (perennial) <br />establishes in a relatively short time, and will main~;a in a presence as an early to <br />mid-successional community for some time (see TebLe 42 in the 1990 Revegetetion Monitoring <br />Report for the Seneca 11 Mine). <br />13-4 Revised 01/15/93 <br />