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&%HIBIT H <br />WILDLIFE INFORMATION <br />The site is located along the South Platte River and has a low <br />land riparian ecosystem. The main habitat area would be adjacent <br />to the river and among the cottonwood trees. The site proposed <br />for mining itself is a non-irrigated pasture. Since this area <br />was previously cultivated, there are no intact stands of native <br />vegetation. The processing site is located out of the 100 year <br />floodplain on an existing industrial site. <br />Key wildlife species should include mule deer, whitetailed deer, <br />red fox, raccoon, skunk, beaver, muskrat, fox squirrel, prairie <br />dogs, waterfowl, great-horned owl, marsh hawk, swainson's hawk, <br />great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, snakes, turtles, <br />frogs, and toads. <br />Our inspection of the site revealed no endangered or threatened <br />species. We would expect that the mature stand of cottonwood <br />trees between the site and the river would be utilized by <br />wintering bald eagles as roost sites. These stands of mature <br />cottonwoods off the mine property would be considered the most <br />critical habitat. Mining operations during the winter are at a <br />low activity level. This should miimize impact to wintering <br />eagles. <br />In order to minimize the effects of the mining operation on the <br />wildlife the following measures will be taken: <br />1. Mining will occur only in the dryland pasture area. No <br />trees will be disturbed nor will the riparian habitat along <br />the river be disturbed. <br />2. The Reclamation Plan proposes the planting of cluster of <br />trees and shrubs to serve as wildlife habitat and food <br />sources. <br />3. This mining area is relatively small and of a regular shape. <br />There are good opportunities for water habitat to be created <br />by the lakes. <br />4. C & M Companies will inform their workers about the <br />wintering bald eagle population and supervise activities so <br />the workers will not disturb any of the eagles. At all <br />times during the year, the mining activity will be limited <br />to a 6 to 10 acre area. In this way human disturbance can <br />be concentrated. Also the winter months are times of less <br />mining activity because of slow construction. <br />H-1 <br />